Loyola Marymount Lions vs Washington State Cougars NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/30/24

Making on a bet on this NCAA game featuring the Lions versus the Cougars? Tip off is at at 9:30 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on ESPN+. The game will be played at Friel Court in Pullman, WA. This non-conference matchup has an over/under of 150.5 points, and Washington State is favored by -8.5 vs. Loyola Marymount.

LOYOLA MARYMOUNT LIONS VS WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Washington State Cougars -8.5

This game will be played at Friel Court at 9:30 ET on Monday, December 30th.

WHY BET THE WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 79-69 in favor of the Cougars.
• Not only will Washington State pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -8.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 150.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 148 points.

Will the Lions Exceed Expectations on the Road?

Loyola Marymount dropped to 7-5 on the season after a 70-55 loss to San Francisco on Saturday. The Lions, who were +10.5 point underdogs, failed to cover the spread. The game’s total points of 125 fell short of the 138.5 O/U line.

LMU trailed 31-25 at halftime and couldn’t close the gap, allowing 39 points in the 2nd half while scoring 30 of their own.

Loyola Marymount struggled offensively in their last game, scoring just 55 points with a field goal percentage of 35.2%. Their effective field goal percentage was only 37%, and they hit just 3 of 19 three-point attempts, shooting 15.8% from beyond the arc. At the free-throw line, they made 14 of 22 attempts, good for 63.6%.

Jevon Porter led the Lions with 22 points, despite missing all 6 of his three-point attempts. Malik Thomas added 19 points, hitting 3 of 7 from deep, while Marcus Williams contributed 16 points, connecting on 4 of 8 three-point shots. The team finished with 8 assists and 8 offensive rebounds.

Even with a strong defensive effort, Loyola Marymount couldn’t keep their opponent under 70 points. They allowed 24 field goals on 63 attempts, with the opponent shooting 38% from the field.

From beyond the arc, the opponent hit 11 of 34 three-point attempts, shooting 32%. Loyola Marymount also sent them to the line 16 times, where they made 11 free throws, shooting 68%.

Can the Cougars Pull Off a Home Win?

Washington State Cougars Recent Game/Games

Washington State improved to 11-3 on the season with an 89-73 road win over Portland on December 28th. The Cougars entered the game as -12.5 favorites and covered the spread, while the total points of 162 exceeded the O/U line of 151.5.

Washington State took control early, leading 51-30 at halftime. Though they allowed 43 points in the 2nd half, they still managed to score 38 points to secure the win.

Washington State put up 89 points in their last game, shooting 55% from the field and hitting 14 of 25 threes for a 56% rate. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 66.7%, with 24 assists on 33 made field goals.

Ethan Price and Max Mackinnon each scored 22 points, with Price hitting 4 of 6 from deep. Nate Calmese added 18 points, and LeJuan Watts was perfect from three, hitting all 3 of his attempts.

Washington State’s defense gave up 73 points, allowing the opposing team to shoot 41% from the field. They allowed 48% shooting on two-point attempts, with the other team hitting 18 of 37 shots.

From beyond the arc, the Cougars held their opponent to 30% shooting, as they made 7 of 23 three-point attempts. Washington State also sent them to the line 18 times, where they converted 16 free throws, shooting 88%. The Cougars gave up 6 offensive rebounds.