Sam Houston Bearkats 2023 Future Odds
From FCS to FBS, Bolder Challenges Await Sam Houston
After reaching the pinnacle of FCS competition in 2020, the Sam Houston Bearkats are beginning a new chapter. Some patience will be required, as the Bearkats aren’t yet eligible (pending a waiver) to compete for postseason play at the FBS level. But increased exposure should help the program grow, especially in Conference USA.
What can we expect from Sam Houston? Read on as we break down the Sam Houston Bearkats future odds in our team preview.
Sam Houston Bearkats At A Glance
| Odds to Win | Opening Odds | Current Odds |
| National Championship | N/A | N/A |
| Conference | N/A | N/A |
| Regular Season Win Total | 4.0 (o-110, u-120) | 4.0 (o-110, u-120) |
| To Make Playoffs (if applicable) | N/A | N/A |
FBS Climb a Daunting Task for Sam Houston
Head coach K.C. Keeler is a proven winner. He’s 85-27 with Sam Houston, including the program’s first FCS championship in the COVID-impacted 2020 season. Bigger challenges now await amid the transition to the FBS level.
Not much is expected of the Bearkats in 2023. In fact, they’re projected for just 4.0 wins, leaving them near the bottom of Conference USA. While they won’t be eligible for postseason play due to NCAA transition rules, there’s still an opportunity for the Bearkats to make a positive impression moving forward.
The defense should be a strength, led by linebackers Markel Perry, and Trevor Williams, and cornerback Jordan Morris, a transfer from Coastal Carolina. The offense, on the other hand, is more of an unknown given the uncertainty at quarterback. Fortunately, Keeler has proven adept at evaluating talent, a task that should only get easier with the program now competing at a higher level.
Some growing pains can be expected early because of a challenging non-conference schedule. That said, the Bearkats appear to be in good hands.
National Championship Odds: Bearkats Ineligible Amid Transition
You won’t find any Sam Houston Bearkats future odds in this market. That’s because the program is currently ineligible for postseason play due to NCAA transition rules. Realistically speaking, the Bearkats wouldn’t have a shot here anyway. That’s just the reality of the college football standings.
Conference Odds: Bearkats Will Get Their Shot Eventually
C-USA will look vastly different this season. Two-time defending champion UTSA left, as did North Texas, UAB, Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, and Rice. To replace them, C-USA added former independents in Liberty and New Mexico State. Sam Houston is one of two FCS schools set to join, along with Jacksonville State.
Due to FBS transition rules, Sam Houston is also prohibited from competing for a conference championship this season. Following UTSA’s departure, the race for the C-USA title is wide open. Western Kentucky is currently a +130 favorite, followed by Liberty at +250 and Middle Tennessee at +500. Five of the seven eligible schools own odds of 10/1 or better.
Regular Season Wins: The Bar is Low. It’s Easy to See Why.
Oddsmakers are setting a low bar here. The Bearkats are projected for just 4.0 wins, with the Over boosted to -110. Looking at the NCAAF schedule, it’s fairly easy to see why. They’ll be tested right from the jump, on Sept. 2 at BYU. The Bearkats are currently 23-point underdogs (-110) and +1100 to win outright, with BYU priced at -2200. After that, they will get Air Force and Houston, two more formidable non-conference foes.
Their C-USA slate looks daunting too, considering Liberty (Oct. 5), Louisiana Tech (Nov. 11), and Western Kentucky (Nov. 18), three of the league’s favorites, are all road games. Maybe there’s a surprise or two in store here. The Bearkats better hope so.
To Make Playoffs: You’ll Need to Wait. And Wait. And Wait.
Again, Sam Houston is ineligible for postseason play, rendering this moot. Even if it was, Sam Houston wouldn’t have much of a shot at the College Football Playoff. No team from Conference USA has qualified since the format began. That’s unlikely to change anytime soon. Sam Houston Bearkats future odds aren’t available in this market.
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