The Delaware Blue Hens travel to Bowling Green, Kentucky, to take on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in a midweek Conference USA clash that opens the Week 9 college football schedule. Both teams enter with identical 3-4 overall records, though WKU holds a 2-1 conference mark compared to Delaware's 1-2.
Delaware received a significant boost last week as quarterback Nick Minicucci returned from a knee injury and threw five touchdowns in a 61-38 blowout victory over Missouri State. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium.
The latest odds list Western Kentucky as 1.5-point favorites with an over/under of 56.5 points. The money line sits at WKU -121 and Delaware +106.
According to the SportsLine Projection Model, which simulated the matchup 10,000 times, the Under 56.5 points is the recommended play. The model notes that the past four WKU games against FBS opponents have all gone Under, while four of seven Delaware games have failed to reach the total this season. The teams combined for 51 points in last year's meeting, and the model projects 55 combined points this time around, making the Under the value side 56% of the time.
Additionally, the model indicates one side of the spread hits in 60% of simulations. SportsLine's model enters Week 9 on a 68-59 run on all top-rated college football picks, returning nearly $400 for $100 players.
