San Francisco Dons vs Washington State Cougars NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/4/25
Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Dons and Cougars. The game is starting at 7:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Cougars at Friel Court in Pullman, WA. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under for this game is set at 148.5 points, and Washington State is favored by -2.5 against San Francisco in a non-conference matchup.
SAN FRANCISCO DONS VS WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Washington State Cougars -2.5
This game will be played at Friel Court at 7:00 ET on Saturday, January 4th.
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 -2.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 148.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 148 points.
Can the Dons Grab a Win in Pullman?
San Francisco Dons Recent Game/Games
The Dons improved to 12-3 on the season with an 89-81 win over Pacific on Thursday. San Francisco, who were -13 favorites going into the game, didn’t cover the spread.
After trailing 35-34 at halftime, the Dons exploded for 55 points in the second half while allowing 46. The game’s total points of 170 easily surpassed the over/under line of 141.5.
San Francisco’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 89 points while shooting 50.9% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 63.6%, thanks in part to hitting 14 threes at a 45.2% clip. They also excelled at the free-throw line, making 19 of 21 attempts for a 90.5% rate.
Elijah Fisher led the way with 25 points, shooting 60% overall. Malik Thomas added 24 points, and Marcus Williams contributed 22 points and 7 assists, hitting 4 threes at 50%. The Dons also grabbed 11 offensive rebounds and dished out 16 assists as a team.
San Francisco’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 81 points on 51% shooting from the field. They allowed 59% shooting on two-pointers, with the opposing team hitting 22 of their 37 attempts.
From beyond the arc, the Dons held their opponent to 33% shooting, with just 5 threes made on 15 attempts. However, they sent the other team to the line 27 times, where they converted 22 free throws at an 81% clip. San Francisco also gave up 12 offensive rebounds.
Can the Cougars Deliver Being Favored at Home?
Washington State Cougars Recent Game/Games
Washington State improved to 12-3 on the season with a 73-59 win over Loyola Marymount on Monday. Playing at home, the Cougars entered the game as -8.5 favorites and covered the spread. The total points for the game were 132, falling short of the 149.5 O/U line.
Leading 36-34 at halftime, Washington State clamped down defensively in the second half, allowing just 25 points while scoring 37 of their own.
Washington State put up 73 points in their last game, shooting 49.1% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 56.1%. They hit 55.3% of their two-point attempts and 36.8% from beyond the arc, connecting on 7 of 19 three-point shots.
Nate Calmese and Caleb Stone-Carrawell each scored 20 points, with Stone-Carrawell hitting 2 of 4 from deep. Tomas Thrastarson added 17 points, knocking down 4 of 5 threes, while Dane Erikstrup contributed 14 points, hitting 3 of 7 from long range. The Cougars had 17 assists and 8 offensive rebounds, shooting 71.4% from the free-throw line.
Despite Washington State’s defensive struggles, allowing 59 points on 49% shooting, they still held their opponent to just 59 points. The Cougars gave up 21 two-point baskets on 38 attempts, a 55% shooting rate.
From beyond the arc, Washington State allowed 7 threes on 19 attempts, with their opponent shooting 36% from deep. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 14 times, where they converted 10 free throws at a 71% rate.