Week 0: WKU vs Austin Peay 8/27/22 College Football Picks, Predictions, Odds
Austin Peay Governors (0-0) vs. WKU Hilltoppers (0-0)
August 27, 2022 12:00 pm EDT
The Line: WKU Hilltoppers -30 / Austin Peay Governors +30 ; Over/Under: 67
(Get latest betting odds)
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and Austin Peay Governors meet Saturday in week 0 college football action from Houchens Industries-LT Smith Stadium. Austin Peay is coming off a 6-5 overall season in 2021, finishing in third place in the Ohio Valley Conference. As for Western Kentucky, they posted a 9-5 record overall last year. The Hilltoppers’ season culminated in a Boca Raton Bowl victory. Check back all season long for free college football picks at Sports Chat Place.
Austin Peay played their final season in the Ohio Valley Conference during 2021 (they’ve moved over to the ASUN Conference this year), finishing at 6-5 overall and 4-2 in conference play. That result left the Governors in third place behind UT Martin and Southeast Missouri State.
It was a rough start last season for Austin Peay, who went 2-4 to start things off. The Governors looked better as the year went on however, winning four of their final five matchups.
Over on the Western Kentucky side, they had a successful campaign last year despite a couple of letdowns. The Hilltoppers posted a 9-5 overall record with a 7-1 Conference USA finish. WKU managed an East Division championship but fell in the CUSA Championship Game to UTSA 49-41.
Following the CUSA Championship Game loss, the Hilltoppers took a trip to the Boca Raton Bowl to face Appalachian State on December 18. Western Kentucky would end up getting the victory in that one 59-38 to end the year on a high note.
PICK: I’m probably going to stay with Western Kentucky here. This should be an interesting matchup to start out the year; both teams will be doing some retooling after turnover last season. Austin Peay in particular loses their two top runners, QB Draylen Ellis and three of their top four receivers. The Hilltoppers will have some new faces as well, but with Jarret Doege coming in from West Virginia the outlook isn’t so bad. If the WKU offense can hit the ground running in this one I think they’ll be fine.
