Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

Kennesaw State beat the Hilltoppers three times in 2025-26, the last in the CUSA tournament. Western Kentucky covered better as underdogs, 7 of 11, than as favorites, 8 of 19.

Kennesaw State

Kennesaw State won 81-65 at Western Kentucky on 17 January with the Hilltoppers at -395, 72-69 at home eleven days later, and 96-87 in the CUSA quarterfinal with Western Kentucky favored by 1.5. One cover in the three, and three units lost.

Better with points

As underdogs Western Kentucky covered 7 of 11 and won 3; as favorites they covered 8 of 19 while winning 13. Neither side of the moneyline paid: 3 units lost on the 10 priced underdog games and 1.1 on the 19 as favorite. The best of the underdog wins was 94-73 at Liberty on 21 February at +270.

At the Battle 4 Atlantis in November they covered all three: 83-78 against Vanderbilt getting 18.5, 97-91 against South Florida, and a 75-70 win over Wichita State.

February, then March

February was the best month: 6-1 and 3.96 units, inside a six-game winning run. March was the worst: three games, three defeats, each as a small favorite, at Missouri State, at Florida International and against Kennesaw State. Those three lost 3 units and ended the season.

The season

Straight up 18-14: 12-4 at home, 5-7 away. Against the spread 15-15 exactly: 7 of 14 covered at home, 5 of 12 away, and 3 of 4 at neutral sites. Over the 29 priced games the moneyline lost 4.1 units.

Middle Tennessee lost both meetings, the first 65-60 at Middle Tennessee at +230, and Jacksonville State won both of theirs.

The total

Western Kentucky’s games split 15 overs to 14 unders, with the Hilltoppers scoring 79.28 a game and allowing 76.12.

Questions and answers