Sam Houston State vs UTEP Prediction 3/11/25 College Basketball Picks

The Sam Houston Bearkats and the UTEP Miners meet Tuesday in Conference USA Tournament college basketball action from Von Braun Center. Here’s a Sam Houston vs UTEP prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Sam Houston vs UTEP pick. We will examine: 

The Sam Houston Bearkats’ recent form and player performance

The UTEP Miners’ recent form and player performance 

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Sam Houston Bearkats

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the UTEP Miners

Recent betting trends in games played between Sam Houston and UTEP

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Sam Houston vs UTEP game

Sam Houston Bearkats Betting Preview

Early last month, Sam Houston was looking pretty rough in the record column. Since then, however, the Bearkats have played a lot better. After a 7-6 start, Sam Houston won just one of their next 11 games over FIU. Otherwise, it was losses to New Mexico State, UTEP, Liberty, Kennesaw State, Jacksonville State, Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky, LA Tech, FIU, and Liberty in that time. Since then the Bearkats aren’t looking too bad on a 5-2 run. Those losses came versus Middle Tennessee and LA Tech. Otherwise, it’s been wins over Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Western Kentucky, UTEP, and New Mexico State in that time. That gives the Bearkats a 13-18 overall run through 31 games so far this season. 

In the New Mexico State home rematch on Saturday, the Bearkats entered the second half with a 45-38 edge. Sam Houston kept the pace from there on a 31-31 run and took the win in the end 76-69. Leading the team in scoring was Lamar Wilkerson with 32 points, five assists, and four rebounds in 38 minutes. Marcus Boykin added 18 points with five rebounds and four assists, while Josiah Hammons added 15 points with four assists and two rebounds. 

UTEP Miners Betting Preview

Over on the UTEP side, they were looking pretty good back in mid-February but since then it’s been a rough ride. The Miners opened on a 12-3 stretch over the first 15 games, then posted a 5-4 run with wins over Liberty, FIU, Kennesaw State, New Mexico State, and FIU among losses to New Mexico State, Jacksonville State, Western Kentucky, and Middle Tennessee. Since then it’s been a string of defeats versus Liberty, Kennesaw State, Jacksonville State, Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, Sam Houston, and LA Tech. In total that gives the Miners a 17-14 record over 31 games so far this season. 

Matched up against LA Tech on the road Saturday, the Miners were down by 12 at halftime and limped to a 76-58 loss in the end. Leading team scorer KJ Thomas came off the bench for 12 points in 22 minutes, and Devon Barnes had 11 bench points with two steals in 28 minutes. 

Why the Sam Houston State Bearkats will win

• UTEP has lost each of its last seven games against the Conference USA.

Matchup/League Facts

• UTEP ranks 26th among Division 1 teams for opponent assist-to-turnover ratio this season (0.84).
• UTEP ranks 29th among Division 1 teams for opponent field goal attempts per game this season (54.3).

Sam Houston vs UTEP Prediction 

I’m going to take a stab at UTEP, but obviously this one’s a coin flip. The Miners are in bad shape lately amid a string of seven straight defeats. UTEP has given up 73 or more points in each one of those losses, including 76 in a limp effort versus LA Tech over the weekend. The Miners looked lost in that one on 31.7 percent shooting, 12 turnovers, and a 42-32 rebounding deficit. 

All of that said, UTEP has had some good runs this year and they’re a decent team on paper. The Miners beat Sam Houston at home 81-72 on January 4 but lost the road rematch 89-87 on March 6. UTEP shot well in that one (48.4 percent) but missed eight of their 23 free throws (65.2 percent) and had 14 turnovers for 20 Bearkats points. The Miners have a lot of work to do in this one, but if they can put together a complete game I can potentially see UTEP eking it out. 

Andrew Jett's Pick: UTEP Miners PK