Washington State Cougars vs Gonzaga Bulldogs NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/11/25
The Cougars and Bulldogs are set to face off at 9:00 ET on ESPN+. The Bulldogs will host the game at McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, WA. The over/under for this non-conference contest is set at 163.5 points, with Gonzaga being favored by -16.5 over Washington State.
WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS VS GONZAGA BULLDOGS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Washington State Cougars +16.5
This game will be played at McCarthey Athletic Center at 9:00 ET on Saturday, January 11th.
WHY BET THE WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-72 in favor of the Bulldogs.
- Even though we have Gonzaga winning straight-up, we like Washington State at +16.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 163.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 148 points.
Will the Cougars Defense Show Up on the Road?
Washington State Cougars Recent Game/Games
Washington State fell to 13-4 on the season after a 95-94 home loss to Pacific on Thursday. The Cougars were heavy favorites, entering the game as -15.5 point favorites.
Washington State trailed 48-38 at halftime but rallied in the second half, outscoring Pacific 46-36. The game’s total points of 189 exceeded the O/U line of 152.5.
Washington State put up 94 points in their last game, shooting 45.2% from the field and 42.3% from beyond the arc, with an effective field goal percentage of 54.8%. They also hit 27 of 36 free throws, good for 75%, and grabbed 16 offensive rebounds, dishing out 17 assists as a team.
Lamar Washington led the way with 40 points, shooting 72.7% from the field and 66.7% from three-point range, adding 6 assists. Ethan Price contributed 28 points, hitting 6 of 9 threes, while Petar Krivokapic added 18 points, shooting 50% overall and from deep.
Washington State’s defense struggled, giving up 95 points on 45% shooting from the field. The Cougars allowed 28 made field goals on 62 attempts.
Defensively, Washington State gave up 11 threes on 26 attempts (42%) and sent their opponent to the line 36 times, where they hit 27 free throws (75%).
Do the Bulldogs Have a Shot at a Home Win?
Gonzaga Bulldogs Recent Game/Games
Gonzaga improved to 13-4 on the season with a 93-80 win over San Diego on Wednesday. The Bulldogs were heavy favorites at -31.5 but didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 173, surpassing the O/U line of 155.5.
Gonzaga led 47-34 at halftime and matched San Diego’s 46 points in the second half. While they secured the win, the Bulldogs’ defense will need to tighten up moving forward.
Gonzaga put up 93 points in their latest game, shooting 45.2% from the field and 32.3% from beyond the arc, hitting 10 of 31 three-point attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 53.2%, and they were strong from the free-throw line, converting 81.8% of their 33 attempts.
Ben Gregg led the way with 23 points, shooting 75% overall and hitting all 3 of his three-point attempts. Kjay Bradley Jr. added 21 points, while Graham Ike contributed 19 rebounds despite shooting just 1 of 5 from the field. Ryan Nembhard dished out 11 assists in the win.
Gonzaga’s defense gave up 80 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 45% from the field, hitting 28 of their 62 attempts. Inside the arc, they were particularly effective, connecting on 58% of their two-point shots, going 18/31.
From three-point range, the opposition shot 32%, making 10 of their 31 attempts. They also had a strong performance at the free-throw line, converting 27 of 33 attempts for 81%. Gonzaga allowed 15 offensive rebounds in the game.