Western Kentucky vs Louisiana Tech Prediction, Picks & Odds for October 21 — College Football Week 9

Louisiana Tech may be missing QB Blake Baker, which will complicate matters in a key C-USA contest with Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers will cover as underdogs, and could win outright if Baker is sidelined or otherwise limited.

Phil Naessens - Contributor at Covers.com
Phil Naessens • Betting Analyst
Oct 20, 2025 • 15:18 ET • 4 min read

NCAAF

Match starts: 25 hrs
LT
59 %
WKU
41 %
Read Analysis
Maverick McIvor Western Kentucky Hilltoppers NCAA College Football
Photo By - Imagn Images. Western Kentucky QB Maverick McIvor (7) runs the ball.

We have a terrific C-USA Tuesday night matchup when the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers visit the Louisana Tech Bulldogs.

The visiting team has won and covered the spread in each of their last four games, and my Western Kentucky vs. Louisiana Tech predictions back that trend for this pivotal contest. 

Read on for my college football picks for Tuesday, October 21.

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Western Kentucky vs Louisiana Tech prediction

Western Kentucky vs Louisiana Tech best bet: Western Kentucky +3.5 (-108)

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers can cover the spread because they can both score on the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and slow their offense enough to keep this close.

Offensively, Maverick McIvor (1,863 yards, 12 TDs) and a backfield by committee force defenses to account for the entire field.

McIvor’s accuracy and WKU’s third-down prowess will sustain drives and create red-zone chances against a Tech unit that leans on volume rushing. 

Special teams help, too, and Cole Maynard’s booming punts will force the Bulldogs into less-than-desirable field position for most of the night. 

Defensively, WKU is stout on key downs (allowing just 35.1% on third downs), creates takeaways (1.2 per game), and generates enough pressure to disrupt long Tech possessions.

Add the wrinkle that Louisiana Tech’s QB Blake Baker is listed day-to-day (possible out/limited), and the Bulldogs’ offensive ceiling drops further.

Between offensive efficiency, a bend-but-don’t-break defense, special teams, and the key number cushion, WKU should cover +3.5.

Western Kentucky vs Louisiana Tech same-game parlay

McIvor has only cleared his passing prop number once, but he faces a Bulldogs secondary allowing 269.5 passing yards per game.

I’ll add the Under to the third leg as three of their last four meetings have gone Under the game total. 

Western Kentucky vs Louisiana Tech SGP

  • Western Kentucky +3.5
  • Maverick McIvor Over 259.5 passing yards
  • Under 50.5

Our deep-ball SGP: TEASER

Hilltoppers wideout Matthew Henry has cleared his receiving yards prop in three straight games.

K.D. Hutchinson leads WKU in receptions and has cleared his receiving props number twice this season.

Western Kentucky vs Louisiana Tech SGP

  • Western Kentucky +3.5
  • Maverick McIvor Over 259.5 passing yards
  • Under 50.5
  • K.D. Hutchinson Over 45.5 receiving yards
  • Matthew Henry Over 52.5 receiving yards

Western Kentucky vs Louisiana Tech odds

  • Spread: Western Kentucky +3.5 (-108) | Louisiana Tech -3.5 (-112)
  • Moneyline: Western Kentucky +138 | Louisiana Tech -164
  • Over/Under: Over 50.5 (-110) | Under 50.5 (-110)

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Western Kentucky vs Louisiana Tech trend to know

The visiting team has covered the spread in each of their last four meetings. Find more college football betting trends for Western Kentucky vs Louisiana Tech.

How to watch Western Kentucky vs Louisiana Tech

Location Joe Aillet Stadium, Ruston, LA
Date Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Kickoff 7:30 p.m. ET
TV CBSSN

Western Kentucky vs Louisiana Tech latest injuries

Western Kentucky vs Louisiana Tech weather

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Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Phil Naessens
Betting Analyst

Prior to joining Covers in 2022, Phil Naessens spent 38 years as a resident tennis pro in Las Vegas, Mykonos, and Corfu, Greece. He’s the past host of the Phil Naessens Show (Armed Forces Radio), and currently hosts the Crush and Rush Tennis Podcast.

Phil is the author of the Betting 101 series (MLB, NFL, NCAAF, and Tennis) and has written for numerous publications, including Advance Local, SB Nation, FanSided, and Lenny Melnick Fantasy Sports. 

His favorite sports to bet on are tennis, MLB, WNBA, Euro men’s and women’s hoops, NCAA sports, NFL, and the NBA. Phil has numerous betting accounts in the US and Europe, and his best advice is to line shop for the best value possible.

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