Washington State Cougars vs Northern Iowa Panthers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/21/24
Betting on today’s Cougars and Panthers game? Catch the action at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, NV, as the Panthers hosts this showdown at 4:00 ET on FloH. In this non-conference matchup, Washington State is favored by -3.5 against Northern Iowa. The over/under for the game is 149 points.
WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS VS NORTHERN IOWA PANTHERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Northern Iowa Panthers +3.5
This game will be played at Orleans Arena at 4:00 ET on Saturday, December 21st.
WHY BET THE NORTHERN IOWA PANTHERS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-69 in favor of the Panthers.
- Not only will Northern Iowa pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +3.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 149 points, and we like the under with a projected 146 points.
Can Washington State Pull Off A Win at Orleans Arena?
Washington State Cougars Recent Game/Games
Washington State dropped to 9-3 on the season following an 89-73 loss to Washington on Wednesday. The Cougars entered the game as +2.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 162, exceeding the pre-game O/U line of 149.5.
After trailing 35-31 at halftime, the Cougars allowed 54 points in the 2nd half while scoring 42 of their own.
In their last game, Washington State put up 73 points, shooting 43.1% from the field and 30% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 48.3%, and they hit 81% of their free throws, going 17-for-21 from the line. The Cougars also grabbed 15 offensive rebounds and dished out 12 assists.
DJ Davis and Nate Calmese led the scoring with 21 points each, with Davis hitting 3-of-7 from deep. Ethan Price added 16 points, while Mekhi Mason and LeJuan Watts contributed 15 points apiece. Great Osobor was efficient, shooting 60% from the field, and Tyree Ihenacho was perfect, going 4-for-4 from the floor.
Washington State’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 89 points on 50% shooting from the field. The Cougars allowed their opponent to hit 51% of their two-point attempts, going 21/41 inside the arc.
From three-point range, Washington State’s defense allowed 10 threes on 21 attempts, a 47% shooting performance. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 26 times, where they converted 17, shooting 65%.
Do the Panthers Have a Shot at a Home Win?
Northern Iowa improved to 6-4 on the season with a dominant 104-76 win over Montana on Monday. The Panthers were -10.5 favorites heading into the game and covered the spread comfortably. The total points for the game reached 180, surpassing the O/U line of 146.
Leading 48-34 at halftime, Northern Iowa continued to pour it on in the second half, outscoring the Grizzlies 56-42. The Panthers’ offense was firing on all cylinders, as they put up over 100 points for the first time this season.
Northern Iowa’s offense was unstoppable in their last game, putting up 104 points with a field goal percentage of 69% (40/58). Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 79.3%, thanks to 74.4% shooting on two-pointers (29/39) and 57.9% from beyond the arc (11/19).
Leon Bond III led the way with 37 points, hitting 4 of 5 threes and shooting 80% overall (12/15). Jacob Hutson added 24 points, shooting 73.3% from the field (11/15), while Kai Johnson contributed 18 points in just 20 minutes, hitting 75% of his shots (6/8).
Even with Northern Iowa giving up 76 points, their offense couldn’t capitalize on the Panthers’ defensive struggles. Northern Iowa allowed their opponent to shoot 69% from the field, including 74% on two-point attempts.
From beyond the arc, Northern Iowa’s defense gave up 11 threes on 19 attempts, a 57% shooting performance. They also sent their opponent to the line 18 times, where they hit 13 free throws.