The top-seeded Sam Houston Bearkats will look for a three-game season sweep over the fifth-seeded UTEP Miners when they meet in the semifinals of the 2024 Conference USA Tournament on Friday. The Bearkats (21-11, 13-3 C-USA), who beat UTEP 60-56 on Jan. 27 and 65-54 on Feb. 24, are on a roll and have won eight straight. The Miners (17-15, 7-9 C-USA), who rallied from a double-digit deficit to post a 66-57 win over Liberty in the quarterfinals, are looking to extend their winning streak to five games. UTEP has won eight of the 10 all-time meetings with Sam Houston.
The game from Propst Arena in Huntsville, Ala., will tip off at 12:30 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network. UTEP is averaging 73.2 points per game, while Sam Houston averages 72.4. The Bearkats are 5.5-point favorites in the latest UTEP vs. Sam Houston odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 133.5. Before making any Sam Houston vs. UTEP picks, be sure to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the proven SportsLine Projection Model.
The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters 2024 conference championship week on a 145-104 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning more than $1,700 for $100 players. It also has a strong 28-18 (+820) record on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Sam Houston vs. UTEP and revealed its CBB picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for UTEP vs. Sam Houston:
- UTEP vs. Sam Houston spread: Sam Houston -5.5
- UTEP vs. Sam Houston over/under: 133.5 points
- UTEP vs. Sam Houston money line: UTEP +178, Sam Houston -217
- UTEP: The Miners have a plus-3.8 point differential for the year, 134th nationally
- SH: The Bearkats are 2-0 on neutral courts this season
- UTEP vs. Sam Houston picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Sam Houston can cover
Junior guard Damon Nicholas Jr. is a big reason for the team's success this season. In 32 games, he has started 27, and is averaging 8.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.2 assists in 25.1 minutes. He is averaging 10.5 points in two games against UTEP and registered a double-double against the Miners on Jan. 27. In that game, he scored 11 points, while grabbing 13 rebounds and dishing out three assists.
Junior forward Cameron Huefner has had back-to-back double-digit games. In the quarterfinal win over FIU, he scored 12 points, while adding two assists. He also scored 12 points in an 81-73 win over Jacksonville State on Saturday in the regular-season finale. For the season, he has played in 25 games, making seven starts. In 19.2 minutes of action, he is averaging 7.8 points and three rebounds. In two games against UTEP, he is averaging 11 points, including a 14-point effort on Feb. 24. See which team to pick here.
Why UTEP can cover
The Miners are paced by senior guard Tae Hardy. The fifth-year player in his second season at UTEP, has played in 31 games, all starts, and is averaging 15.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.7 steals in 33 minutes. In Thursday's come-from-behind win over Liberty in the quarterfinals, he scored 11 points and grabbed four rebounds. He poured in 26 points, while adding five assists and three rebounds in an 83-76 win over FIU on March 7.
Junior forward Otis Frazier III has scored in double figures in four of the past five games, and in 19 overall. He also has one double-double. He scored 14 points, while grabbing three rebounds and dishing out two assists in the Feb. 24 loss to Sam Houston. In 31 games, including 29 starts, Frazier is averaging 11.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals in 27.5 minutes. See which team to pick here.
How to make UTEP vs. Sam Houston picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the point total, projecting the teams to combine for 139 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits over 50% of the time. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Sam Houston vs. UTEP, and which side of the spread hits over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that has returned more than $1,700 on its college basketball picks this season, and find out.
