Thursday Night College Football Same Game Parlay: Sam Houston vs. New Mexico State – Week 6 of college football kicks off on Thursday night in New Mexico
Thursday, October 2, the Sam Houston Bearkats (0–4) travel to Las Cruces to face New Mexico State (2–2) in a pivotal CUSA showdown. Sam Houston is listed as a −2.5 point favorite, money line favorites at -130, and the total sits at 53.5.
New Mexico State’s ground game is broken (averaging just 39.5 rushing yards, 1.76 yards per carry) and ranked last in offensive line yards. Meanwhile, Sam Houston’s offense is set to rebound under coach Phil Longo vs a NMSU defense that allows 8.8 yards per pass attempt (ranked 116th) and has weak havoc generation.
NMSU Opponent Previews: Sam Houston
I was joined by Lane Fobbs (@BearkatBites) for this week, who covers Bearkats football with his Bearkat Bites newsletter. Check it out as we preview the Aggies’ adversaries on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/Apoh08XsRF
— Nick Coppola (@Nick_Coppola__) October 1, 2025
Given the offensive mismatches and expectation of bounce-back passing, a same game parlay combining Sam Houston −2.5 with Over 53.5 fits well with the script.
Let’s jump into this Thursday night parlay as it is one of our best bets!
Thursday Night College Football Same Game Parlay: Sam Houston vs. New Mexico State
Leg 1: Sam Houston −2.5Â
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Sam Houston comes in at 0-4, including a 55-0 loss to Texas last week, but there is a reason they are the favorite. Their head coach, Phil Longo, is one of the better offensive minds in college football.
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The NMSU offensive line is very weak (ranked below 2.0 yards per carry), opening gaps for SHSU’s offense to exploit.
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Against a pass defense that surrenders 8.8 yards/attempt, Sam Houston’s passing game should have room to work on the road.
Leg 2: Over 53.5 (−108)
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The matchup heavily favors passing volume more than rushing explosion, which means more possessions and more scoring opportunities. Sam Houston can move the ball through the air, and this NMSU secondary is a perfect matchup for Sam Houston to get their first victory of 2025.
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NMSU’s defense is weak vs. a legit passing attack, and if SHSU leans into the air, and you know coach Longo will, the total is likely to push to the over.
You’ll see Hunter Watson take the field first for Sam Houston against New Mexico State….HOWEVER….will he finish the game?? Burning questions at the link below!#eatemupkats #shsu https://t.co/xyxgprgEbD pic.twitter.com/6Y5S4MmqnK
— Lane Fobbs (@BearkatBites) September 27, 2025
| Leg | Pick | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sam Houston −2.5 | −110 |
| 2 |   Over 53.5 |  −108 |
| Estimated Same Game Parlay Odds | Â +240 | |
| *Odds subject to change. Confirm live lines before wagering. | ||
In this Thursday night CUSA battle, Sam Houston (- 2.5) and Over 53.5 become a logical same game parlay. The disparity in rushing effectiveness, the disparity in pass defense, and Sam Houston’s ability to create chunk plays through the air make a clear path for this correlated parlay. It’s an excellent bet for a Thursday night.
If Sam Houston can force New Mexico State into passing situations and exploit their defensive flaws, they cover. Meanwhile, the Over hits if both teams trade drives with a high volume of passing. Let’s avoid red zone turnovers. Keep an eye on injury reports and weather, but this ticket aligns with the sharpest angles for Thursday night!
