Western Kentucky vs. Louisiana Tech prediction: College football Odds, picks, best bets

There is a lot going on in the sporting world on Tuesday, but the college football sickos will be dialed into a Conference USA twinbill: Kennesaw State and FIU get things going at 7 p.m.ET, while Western Kentucky visits Joe Aillet Stadium in beautiful Ruston, La., for a showdown with Louisiana Tech.The Bulldogs are holding as 3.5-point favorites in front of their home crowd.A week ago, it seemed like Western Kentucky was on its way to a second trip to the Conference USA Championship in as many years.

The Hilltoppers were 3-0 against conference opponents before a visit from FIU, and the rest of the schedule seemed to set up perfectly for WKU to punch its ticket.The only problem was that the Panthers completely undressed the Hilltoppers in Bowling Green, derailing their season in the process.Louisiana Tech had a similar situation unfold after it started 2-0 in Conference USA, but then got upended by Kennesaw State, 35-7, on Oct.9.That sets this one up to be a must-win game for both sides if they want to challenge Kennesaw State or Jacksonville State for a spot atop the standings.For Western Kentucky, the path to success rests with the offense.

Maverick McIvor leads one of the best passing attacks in the conference, but they sputtered against a talented FIU secondary.We could see a similar situation unfold Tuesday in Ruston, as the Bulldogs are led by a balanced defense that can hold its own in the trenches and in the backfield.Louisiana Tech’s offense is a different story, especially with quarterback Blake Baker banged up.Western Kentucky’s defense isn’t going to have books written about it, but they should be able to hold their own against this unit.The stakes are quite high for this one, which could lead to a scrappy start and conservative gameplan, both of which can help us get to the window with a ticket on the Under 49.5 points.The Play: Under 49.5 (-110, FanDuel)Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 ...