“Weekday CUSA” wraps up on Wednesday with the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers welcoming the Kennesaw State Owls to Bowling Green. Brian Bohannon’s team is fresh off the upset of the season. Can they make it successive shocks in Week 10?
Our Kennesaw State vs. Western Kentucky prediction dives into all the essential details, from the latest betting odds to each team’s outlook for the remainder of the 2024 college football season.
Kennesaw State vs. Western Kentucky Betting Preview
All Kennesaw State vs. Western Kentucky odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. The CFN Spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Western Kentucky -18 - Spread
Western Kentucky -24 - Moneyline
Western Kentucky -2800, Kennesaw State +1300 - Over/Under
50.5 points - Game time
7:30 p.m. ET - Location
Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium | Bowling Green, KY - Predicted Weather at Kick
68 degrees, mostly cloudy and warm, 9 mph winds - How to Watch
ESPN2
It’s a first-ever matchup between Kennesaw State and Western Kentucky, and it comes at a great time for both programs. The Owls are flying high after their incredible first FBS win against previously unbeaten Liberty, while the Hilltoppers sit atop the CUSA summit, knowing that a place in the conference title game is within their reach. Unsurprisingly, they’re a huge favorite.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
That’s been a great spot for Tyson Helton’s team to be in all season long. Western Kentucky has dominated its opposition when expected to win, and they enter this game on a six-game streak covering the spread regardless of whether they’re favored or the underdog. Kennesaw State covered their first game of the year and, obviously, the win over Liberty. Can they keep it close?
Kennesaw State’s Winning Probability
According to the CFN FPM, Kennesaw State has just an 8.7% chance of winning on Wednesday night. Owls fans can point to their win over Liberty as proof that anything is possible, but the probability here is lower than their game against the Flames.
Here are the remaining win probabilities for Kennesaw State in the 2024 season:
- at Western Kentucky: 8.7%
- at UTEP: 37.4%
- vs. Sam Houston: 23.4%
- vs. FIU: 34.3%
- at Louisiana Tech: 24.9%
If those win probabilities were to hold true, Kennesaw State would end the 2024 campaign with a 1-11 record. Rather than kick on off the back of the win over the Flames, it could stand as their singular triumph in a tough inaugural FBS campaign.
Western Kentucky’s Winning Probability
Conversely, the CFN FPM gives Western Kentucky a 91.3% chance of securing victory on Wednesday night. Our metric has been in lockstep with the Hilltoppers this fall, projecting the defeats to the Alabama Crimson Tide and Boston College Eagles while forecasting wins in their other five outings.
Here are the remaining win probabilities for Western Kentucky in the 2024 season:
- vs. Kennesaw State: 91.3%
- at New Mexico State: 82.6%
- vs. Louisiana Tech: 78.1%
- at Liberty: 49.4%
- vs. Jacksonville State: 62.6%
If those win probabilities were to hold true, the Hilltoppers would finish the season with a 10-2 record. Their only conference loss would be at the hands of Liberty, which would likely be the preview to the CUSA Championship Game in this scenario. CFN FPM gives Western Kentucky a 36.3% chance to win the conference.
Prediction for Kennesaw State vs. Western Kentucky
Getting that first win of the year sometimes gives you incredible momentum moving forward. Kennesaw State has the opportunity to do something spectacular on Wednesday night. Shocking the leading CUSA contenders in successive weeks would be an event that lines the annals of college football folklore for years to come, whispered in hallways like a myth.
Is it actually possible that the Owls could get a road upset in Week 10, or are the Hilltoppers just too good to befall the same fate as the Flames last week? Who has the edge, and where will the crucial battles unfold?
“They look like a very impressive football team, a very hungry team. They obviously had a big win against Liberty. As I’ve had a chance to watch them throughout the season, you can tell they’re a well-coached team; they’re a hungry team, so we need to play our best football, and we need to have a championship mentality. I know our guys will be excited and ready to play.”
Western Kentucky head coach Helton is taking the threat of the Owls seriously. After six games of them being written off as an underprepared outfit for the FBS level, Kennesaw State showed against Liberty that they have the moxy to take advantage of weaknesses. They did a good job of limiting the Liberty running back room, holding Billy Lucas and Quinton Cooley under five yards per carry.
Although Elijah Young has over 100 carries this year, the ground game isn’t the Hilltoppers forte. The Western Kentucky running back is one of five players for the CUSA frontrunner with double-digit receptions, as Caden Veltkamp and an impressive passing game lead the way for the team’s offense. No CUSA team has more passing yards per game or a higher completion percentage.
With just two interceptions all year, the Kennesaw State defense likely doesn’t hold an answer for the Western Kentucky passing game. Meanwhile, the Hilltoppers haven’t allowed more than 21 points since the opening-day loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide. Davis Bryson and Michael Benefield are dangerous in the Owls offense, but Western Kentucky can overwhelm on both sides of the ball.
Prediction: Kennesaw State 17, Western Kentucky 40
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