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Posted at 8:00 AM ET. Odds are subject to change

EASTERN KENTUCKY -1½ over Western Kentucky

Alumni Coliseum – Richmond, KY

7:00 PM ET. Someone will have to explain this line to us. Please, debrief us, will you? WKU has won nine of the last ten meetings against the Colonels, and when we talk about brand equity, the Hilltoppers have it in full. EKY? They do not. Another note worth underlining: this is the first time in recent memory that Eastern Kentucky has been favored against their cross-state rival.

This is reminiscent of what we saw last week when we backed North Carolina hosting Kansas. Historicity and trends pointed one way, yet the oddsmakers planted their flag firmly on the other. Same blueprint here. Every long-term angle favors the underdog, but the market refuses to give Western Kentucky even the smallest nod. That is telling.

We don’t need to break down X’s and O’s or explain this further. Western Kentucky is a program that is shortlisted yet again for the Conference USA credentials and March Madness. After all, the Hilltoppers were just there, last season. Eastern Kentucky is not spoken about in that breath. Their High Water Mark was winning the regular season title in 2024, but even then they crashed out with a 18-14 record. That makes the number even more striking.

Removing brand profiles which also influence perception, everything in the historical record tugs toward one side and the line still sits against it. When that happens, you follow the market’s lead. The oddsmakers are signaling something loud. The Colonels are the play.

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