Montana State Bobcats vs Eastern Washington Eagles NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/4/25
Looking to win big? The Bobcats and Eagles face off at 5:00 ET on ESPN+. The Eagles are hosting the game at Reese Court in Cheney, WA. Montana State come into this Big Sky conference matchup as the -1.5 favorite. The over/under line currently sits at 149.5 points.
MONTANA STATE BOBCATS VS EASTERN WASHINGTON EAGLES BETTING PICK
The Pick: Eastern Washington Eagles +1.5
This game will be played at Reese Court at 5:00 ET on Saturday, January 4th.
WHY BET THE EASTERN WASHINGTON EAGLES:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-69 in favor of the Eagles.
- Not only will Eastern Washington pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +1.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 149.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 145 points.
Can the Bobcats Grab a Win on the Road?
Montana State’s season record fell to 4-9 after a 69-64 road loss to Idaho on Thursday. The Bobcats were -1.5 favorites but failed to cover the spread. The game’s total points of 133 fell short of the 144.5 O/U line.
After trailing 30-25 at halftime, Montana State scored 39 points in the 2nd half but allowed Idaho to match that output, preventing a comeback.
Montana State struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 38.6% from the field and 22.2% from beyond the arc, hitting only 6 of 27 three-point attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 43.9%, and they connected on 60.9% of their free throws, going 14 for 23 from the line.
Patrick McMahon led the team with 15 points, while Tyler Mrus, Tyler Linhardt, and Brian Goracke each added 14 points. Linhardt was efficient, shooting 66.7% overall and from three-point range. Julius Mims was perfect from the field, hitting all 4 of his shots and grabbing 9 rebounds.
Montana State’s defense held their opponent to 69 points, with a field goal percentage of 39% on 22 of 56 shooting. They limited two-point opportunities, allowing 15 of 36 shots to fall for a 41% conversion rate.
From beyond the arc, their opponent shot 35%, hitting 7 of 20 three-point attempts. At the free-throw line, they went 18 of 26, shooting 69%. Montana State also gave up 11 offensive rebounds.
Can the Eagles Offense Score Enough at Home?
Eastern Washington’s season continued to be a struggle as they fell to 2-10 after a 92-81 loss to Montana on Thursday. The Eagles, who were +1 point underdogs, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 173, surpassing the O/U line of 153.5.
After a 40-40 tie at halftime, Eastern Washington couldn’t keep up in the second half, allowing 52 points while scoring 41. The Eagles will need to tighten up defensively if they hope to turn their season around.
Eastern Washington put up 81 points in their latest game, shooting 46% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 52.4%. They made 8 of 24 three-pointers (33.3%) and were strong from the free-throw line, hitting 15 of 17 attempts (88.2%). The Eagles also grabbed 14 offensive rebounds and dished out 11 assists.
Mason Williams led the way with 28 points, shooting 4 of 7 from deep (57.1%), while Money Williams added 26 points and 7 assists. Joe Pridgen was efficient, hitting 9 of 12 shots for 21 points, and Austin Patterson connected on 3 of 4 threes, finishing with 14 points.
Eastern Washington’s defense struggled, giving up 92 points on 46% shooting from the field. They allowed 21 two-point baskets on 39 attempts, a 53% success rate for their opponent.
From beyond the arc, Eastern Washington’s defense conceded 8 threes on 24 attempts, with their opponent also hitting 15 of 17 free throws, an 88% clip. Eastern Washington gave up 14 offensive rebounds.