Brock Glenn ran Western Kentucky out of trouble against Missouri State. He converted third downs with his legs and, alongside Ajay Allen, piled up 200 rushing yards in the Hilltoppers’ first FBS win. He takes that running threat to Bowers Stadium for Wednesday’s 7 p.m. CT kickoff, Sam Houston’s first conference home game since renovations displaced their entire 2025 home schedule. Below is my preview, prediction, and pick for today’s college football game between the Sam Houston Bearkats and the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.
Here’s how I’ll play it. I’ll be pumping out these predictions for individual games all season, with plenty of coverage here on DraftKings Network. Follow my handle @dansby_edits for more betting plays.
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Sam Houston vs. WKU prediction, preview
Phil Longo has plenty to repair up front. Liberty gashed his Bearkats for 297 rushing yards; afterward, he singled out poor tackling and defenders losing their assignments against the option. Glenn demands that same discipline. Bearkat linebackers have to account for both runners; chase Allen too eagerly, and Glenn can exploit the space they abandon. Tyson Helton has Rodney Tisdale Jr. available despite lingering ankle injuries. Even if Tisdale shares the passing work, Helton already used Glenn on rushing downs before last week’s start.
Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay can bring a safety toward those runs and trust Ishmel Atkins outside. His secondary has restricted opponents to a stingy 5.6 yards per pass attempt this season; Helton ought to probe underneath through Jonathan Stafford Jr. Glenn found Stafford for a 42-yard touchdown against Missouri State, too, the sort of strike Aughtry-Lindsay risks when he draws a safety forward. WKU covered at least 56 yards on each of their four touchdown drives. Finally, an offense that could finish from ordinary field position.
Sam Houston’s trouble starts well before the goal line. With Brock Stukes out for the year, Landyn Locke takes snaps from Josiah Chenault behind a line starting freshmen Myles Joseph and Tr’e Williams together on the left. Returning home should ease their communication after Joseph’s false start spoiled a favorable second down at Liberty. Longo should call early-down throws to Grady O’Neill inside. Locke found him for a 27-yard gain at Liberty; quick releases would shorten how long the freshmen must protect.
WKU vs. Sam Houston pick, best bet
They draw a defense that has mustered only six sacks in six games and surrendered a wretched 6.3 yards per carry against FBS opponents. Alton McCaskill and emerging freshman MJ Dowdy ought to get chances early; productive carries would draw defenders toward the line and open deeper throws to Tim Burns Jr. WKU also awaits eligibility decisions on linebacker Jaylen Wester and linemen Mackavelli Malotumau and Rylen Su’a-Filo. With that front unsettled, I expect Sam Houston to recover into the twenties and make WKU earn a close road win.
Reaching scoring range still leaves Longo a blocking problem. His offense crossed midfield on consecutive third-quarter drives at Liberty and failed on fourth down both times, including a stuffed fourth-and-one. Glenn can force Sam Houston to defend an extra runner on those decisive downs. Allen threatens longer runs through that same front. I’ll lay 1.5 with WKU; Longo has had six days to repair the assignments Liberty exposed, and Helton has the runners to exploit them again.
Best bet: Western Kentucky -1.5 (-105).
Projected score: Western Kentucky 27, Sam Houston 23.
Best Bet: WKU -1.5 (-105) at Sam Houston
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