Conference USA offers up some early weekend college football betting action when Louisiana Tech wrangles with Western Kentucky Thursday night in Ruston.

Even though these teams have been conference rivals for almost a decade, this will be their first meeting in five seasons.

How are we playing this game with our free college football betting pick?

NCAAF Betting Odds

This week's college football betting market opened Western Kentucky as a 6.5-point conference road favorite for Thursday night, with an over/under of right around 59.5. Early betting action dipped that spread to 5.5.

Western Kentucky-Louisiana Tech Betting Preview

The Hilltoppers are 3-2 on the season and 1-0 in CUSA play after beating Middle Tennessee last Thursday 31-10. Western Kentucky scored the first 10 points of the game, led 23-3 at the half, let the Blue Raiders get within 23-10 in the third quarter but tacked on a score in the fourth and hung on for the cover at -6.5.

WKU out-gained Middle Tennessee 444-373, and most of the yardage the Hilltoppers' defense gave up came while protecting a three-score lead.

Western Kentucky opened this season with a 41-24 victory over South Florida, even though it allowed 374 yards on the ground! The Hilltoppers then rolled through Houston Christian (FCS) 52-22 but lost at Ohio State 62-10 and at Troy 27-24.

WKU only returned 11 starters this season, just four on defense, from a team that played 6-2 in CUSA last season. So far this season, the Hilltoppers' defense is playing about 90 yards per game worse than last year.

The Bulldogs are 3-3 on the season and 2-0 in CUSA play after winning at short-handed Texas-El Paso last Friday 24-10. Louisiana Tech scored two touchdowns in the first four minutes of the game, the second on a punt return, led 17-7 at the half, let the Miners get within one score early in the third but blanked them from there and covered at -1.5.

The Bulldogs actually got out-gained by UTEP 321-294, and 85 of L-Tech's yards came on one play. They also gave up 220 yards on the ground.

Two weeks ago, Louisiana Tech lost at Nebraska 28-14 but covered at +20. Three weeks ago, the Bulldogs rallied from a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit at North Texas to tie the game late, only to lose on a field goal at the buzzer.

Louisiana Tech only returned 11 starters this season from a team that played 2-6 in CUSA last year. They brought in transfer QB Bachmeier from Boise State, but he's missed the last two games with a bad shoulder and is listed as questionable for Thursday night.

Western Kentucky-Louisiana Tech Recent History

These teams split six games from 2014-18, including Western Kentucky's 58-44 victory in the 2016 CUSA championship game. Thursday will be their first meeting since 2018.

College Football Betting Trends

Louisiana Tech is 3-0 ATS as a home dog over the last season-plus.

Western Kentucky is 5-2-1 ATS in its last eight games when favored on the road.

Totals Report

The unders are 3-1 in Hilltoppers games vs. FBS opponents this season.

The unders are 4-1 in Bulldogs games vs. FBS foes.