Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. New Mexico State Aggies: Preview, Odds, and How to Watch

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are set to face the New Mexico State Aggies in a Conference USA (CUSA) matchup on Saturday, November 9, 2024. The game will be held at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, New Mexico, with a kickoff time of 6 p.m. ET. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+ and can also be streamed live through the platform[2][4].

Oddsmakers heavily favor the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, who are currently 6-2 overall and 4-0 in conference play. They are favored by 18.5 points over the New Mexico State Aggies, who stand at 2-6 overall and 1-4 in conference play. The total for the matchup has been set at 52.5 points[4].

In their last games, Western Kentucky defeated the Kennesaw State Owls 31-14, while New Mexico State lost to the Florida International Panthers 34-13. The Hilltoppers have been strong on both offense and defense, averaging 29 points per game and allowing 21.4 points per game. In contrast, the Aggies have struggled, averaging 19.6 points per game while allowing 36.6 points per game[4][5].

Key players for Western Kentucky include quarterback Caden Veltkamp, who has thrown for 1,704 yards with 17 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, running back Elijah Young with 489 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, and wide receiver Kisean Johnson with 41 receptions for 557 yards and 4 touchdowns. For New Mexico State, notable players include quarterback P.J. Awad, running back Seth McGowan with 523 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, and wide receiver P.J. Johnson III with 14 receptions for 229 yards and 1 touchdown[3][4].

The game promises to be an interesting matchup given the significant differences in the teams’ performances this season. Western Kentucky’s strong offense and defense will be tested against New Mexico State’s struggling but potentially resilient team[4][5].