The Kennesaw State Owls (5–2) return to Fifth Third Stadium riding a three-game cover streak to face the UTEP Miners (2–5) on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
The Owls have quietly become one of CUSA’s steadiest first-down offenses, while UTEP brings a feisty defense (top-50 vs. the pass, elite on 3rd downs) but an offense that’s struggled with turnovers and finishing drives.
KSU is a ~9.5-point favorite with a total ~50.5. Let’s break it down.
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📺 Where to Watch Kennesaw State Owls vs. UTEP Miners? (October 28)
| Item | Details |
| Date | Tuesday, October 28, 2025 |
| Time | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| Venue | Fifth Third Stadium — Kennesaw, GA |
| TV | ESPNU |
| Stream | Fubo (live) |
💰 Betting Odds (Consensus snapshot)
| Market | Line |
| Spread | Kennesaw State -9.5 |
| Moneyline | KSU -380 • UTEP +300 |
| Over/Under | 50.5 |
Implied score: KSU 30–21
📊 Team Form & Fast Facts
Kennesaw State (5–2, 5–2 ATS)
- Offense: 382.3 yds/g (72nd) — 226.6 pass (74th) / 155.7 rush (67th)
- Defense: 402.7 yds allowed/g (103rd) — 236.6 pass (94th) / 166.1 rush (101st)
- Scoring: 25.3 PPG (86th) | 21.3 allowed (40th)
- 3rd Down O: 40.9% (60th)
- Recent: 3–0 ATS last three, won 45–26 at FIU
UTEP (2–5, 2–4 ATS)
- Offense: 329.7 yds/g (bottom-25) — 224.4 pass (77th) / 105.3 rush (125th)
- Defense: 357.6 yds allowed/g (59th) — 201.4 pass (43rd) / 156.1 rush (89th)
- Scoring: 21.0 PPG (bottom-25) | 24.1 allowed (68th)
- 3rd Down D: 24.8% allowed (4th best nationally)
- Turnover margin: -8 (7 takeaways, 15 giveaways)
🔍 Matchup Breakdown
When Kennesaw State Has the Ball
- QB Amari Odom: 70.8% comp, 959 pass yds, 5 TD, 1 INT + 198 rush yds, 3 TD. Efficient and mobile, especially on rollouts and RPO keepers.
- WR Gabriel Benyard: 34/495/3 (70.7 ypg) — clear WR1 and chunk-play threat.
- RB room: Coleman Bennett (383 yds, 4.8 YPC, 4 total TD) and Alexander Diggs (228 yds, 2 TD) provide balance.
Key edges:
- KSU generates 0.4 points per play and 8.3 yards per pass attempt (32nd).
- UTEP’s defense is sturdy overall (43rd vs pass), but the Miners invite methodical drives: they’re elite on 3rd down defense yet allow 7.1 yards per opponent pass (middling). KSU’s play-action verticals to Benyard/Moss can stress that.
What matters: If KSU stays ahead of the chains (zone-read + quick game), Odom’s dual-threat keeps UTEP’s linebackers in conflict and opens those intermediate windows.
When UTEP Has the Ball
- QB Malachi Nelson: 1,163 yds, 8 TD, 9 INT (54.7%). Big-arm flashes but turnover-prone.
- WR Kenny Odom: 36/367/3 — high-volume security blanket.
- RB Ashten Emory: 237 yds, 3 TD; ground game still bottom-25 (105.3 rush ypg).
Key edges:
- KSU allows 21.3 PPG (40th) and 0.3 points/play (top-15) — they bend in yardage but stiffen in scoring areas.
- Red-zone mismatch: UTEP 75% scoring in RZ (120th); KSU defense 76.9% allowed (23rd). That’s a problem for a Miners offense already slogging on standard downs.
What matters: If UTEP can’t run it (and they usually can’t), Nelson has to fit tight windows against a defense that wins situationally. Short fields are the Miners’ best friend — but their -8 turnover margin says otherwise.
🧠 Betting Angles & Trends
- Side: Kennesaw State 5–2 ATS; UTEP 2–4 ATS.
- KSU last three: 3–0 SU/ATS; average game total ~50.9 (right on market).
- UTEP third-down defense can keep this closer for a half, but their giveaways and RZ inefficiency tilt full-game cover probability toward the Owls.
- Total: Both teams have hit the over sparingly (KSU 2/7; UTEP 2/6). Pace + UTEP’s RZ issues lean Under unless KSU explodes with explosives/YAC.
⭐ Key Players to Watch
| Team | Player | Role | 2025 Snapshot |
| KSU | Amari Odom | QB | 959 pass yds, 5 TD, 1 INT; 198 rush yds, 3 TD |
| KSU | Gabriel Benyard | WR1 | 34 rec, 495 yds, 3 TD |
| KSU | Coleman Bennett | RB | 383 rush yds, 2 rush TD; 180 rec yds, 2 rec TD |
| UTEP | Malachi Nelson | QB | 1,163 yds, 8 TD, 9 INT |
| UTEP | Kenny Odom | WR1 | 36 rec, 367 yds, 3 TD |
| UTEP | Micah Davey | LB | 57 tackles, tone-setter |
🎯 Prop Ideas (line ranges vary by book)
- Amari Odom Over 1.5 Pass TDs — KSU’s PA game vs. UTEP’s middling YPA allowed.
- Gabriel Benyard Over 65.5 Receiving Yards — volume + explosives; Owls’ best mismatch.
- KSU Team Total Over 27.5 — Owls average 25.3 overall, but home efficiency + short fields vs. UTEP giveaways supports 28+.
- UTEP Team Total Under 20.5 — Miners at 21.0 PPG with RZ struggles vs. top-40 scoring D.
🧩 Same-Game Parlay (SGP) — Value Build
- Kennesaw State -6.5 (alt)
- Under 54.5 (alt)
- Gabriel Benyard 60+ Receiving Yards
- Amari Odom 1+ Passing TD
Target: ~+300 to +425 depending on book.
Risk-managed variant: KSU ML + Under 54.5 + Benyard 50+ (often ~+200).
🏁 ClutchBuzz Prediction
KSU’s balance and efficiency — plus a big edge in turnover reliability and red-zone finishing — are the difference at home. UTEP’s defense will get its stops (especially on 3rd down), but the Miners’ offense won’t cash in often enough.
Final: Kennesaw State 27, UTEP 17
Best Bets:
- ✅ Kennesaw State -9.5 (would play to -10)
- ✅ Under 50.5
- ✅ Benyard Over receiving / Odom Over 1.5 pass TDs (props permitting)
