The Sam Houston Bearkats (1-6, 0-3 Conference USA) and the Missouri State Bears (2-5, 1-2) meet Tuesday at Robert W. Plaster Stadium in Springfield, Missouri. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Let's analyze college football odds around the Sam Houston vs. Missouri State odds and make our expert college football picks and predictions for the best bets.
The all-time series is tied 1-1 and this is their first meeting as Conference USA combatants. Missouri State won 20-17 in the 2006, both as members of the FCS, while Sam Houston won 33-31 in the first meeting in 2004.
Sam Houston has dropped 4 in a row, and it is 0-6 straight up (SU) against FBS opponents. And, after a 3-0 against the spread (ATS) start, the Bearkats are 0-4 ATS in the past
4 outings. It has lost the past 2 road games by 32 and 35 points. The Under is 3-0 in the past 3 outings, too.
Missouri State is coming off a 61-38 loss at the Delaware Blue Hens as 3.5-point underdogs as the Over (54.5) cashed. It is just 1-4 SU and 2-3 ATS in the past 5 outings, while the Under is 3-1 in the past 4 contests. The Bears have allowed at least 30 points in 4 of the past 5 games, too.
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Sam Houston at Missouri State odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:40 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Sam Houston +168 (bet $100 to win $168) | Missouri State -205 (bet $205 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Sam Houston +5.5 (-114) | Missouri State -5.5 (-106)
- Over/Under (O/U): 50.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Sam Houston at Missouri State picks and predictions
Prediction
Missouri State 31, Sam Houston 17
Moneyline
Missouri State (-205) will cost you more than 2 times your potential return, and that's a little too steep of a price for a singular play. However, if you were to pair this together with some NBA, NHL or World Series action in a multi-leg parlay, that's perfectly OK to include the Bears.
PASS.
Against the spread
MISSOURI STATE -5.5 (-106) is a solid play at home, as Sam Houston has been horrible against the number lately. The Bearkats have failed to cover the past 4 games, and it has allowed 30+ points in 3 of those games, whole losing 3 of the past 4 outings by at least 13 points.
Over/Under
UNDER 50.5 (-105) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.
The Under has cashed in 3 in a row for Sam Houston, and it has gone without a touchdown in 2 of those 3 outings, while averaging just 10.0 points per game in the 3-game span.
The Under is 3-1 in the past 4 games for Missouri State, but the fact it combined with Delaware for 99 combined points last time out gives us a little pause.
Best prop bet
MISSOURI STATE - OVER 122.5 RUSHING YARDS (-114).
Sam Houston has coughed up 200.7 rushing yards per game, ranking 128th in the FBS in the category. As such, let's back the Bears to get to at least 123 yards on the ground, especially at home, as they are expected to have a lead.
Betting odds calculator
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Follow Daniel Dobish on X at @danieledobish. Follow SportsbookWire on X at SportsBookWire and on Facebook.
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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Sam Houston Bearkats at Missouri State Bears odds, picks and predictions
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