Washington State Cougars vs Santa Clara Broncos NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/23/25
Looking to win big? The Cougars and Broncos face off at 11:00 ET on CBSS. The Broncos are hosting the game at Leavey Center in Santa Clara, CA. The over/under for this game is set at 159 points, and Santa Clara is favored by -5 against Washington State in a non-conference matchup.
WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS VS SANTA CLARA BRONCOS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Santa Clara Broncos -5
This game will be played at Leavey Center at 11:00 ET on Thursday, January 23rd.
WHY BET THE SANTA CLARA BRONCOS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-71 in favor of the Broncos.
- Not only will Santa Clara pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 159 points, and we like the under with a projected 148 points.
Does Washington State Have What it Takes on the Road?
Washington State Cougars Recent Game/Games
Washington State improved to 15-5 on the season with a 92-70 win over Portland on Saturday. The Cougars were -17.5 point favorites going into the game and covered the spread. The total points for the game were 162, surpassing the over/under line of 155.5.
Washington State led 44-35 at halftime and continued their strong play in the second half, scoring 48 points while holding Portland to 35 points.
In their last game, Washington State put up 92 points, shooting 53% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 59.1%. They were dominant inside, hitting 69.2% of their two-point attempts, while struggling from beyond the arc, making just 29.6% of their threes. At the free-throw line, they connected on 60.9% of their attempts.
Chris Austin and Nate Calmese each scored 23 points, with Austin hitting 4 of 5 threes and shooting 72.7% overall. Calmese added 8 assists. Dane Erikstrup contributed 17 points, knocking down 4 of 7 from deep, and LeJuan Watts added 15 points and 7 rebounds. The Cougars also grabbed 13 offensive rebounds and finished with 17 assists as a team.
Washington State’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 70 points on 53% shooting from the field. The Cougars allowed the opposing team to hit 27 of 39 two-point attempts, a 69% success rate.
From beyond the arc, Washington State’s defense held the other team to 8 of 27 shooting, or 29%. They also sent the opponent to the free-throw line 23 times, where they made 14 shots, a 60% free-throw percentage. The Cougars gave up 13 offensive rebounds.
Do the Broncos Have What it Takes at Home?
Santa Clara Broncos Recent Game/Games
Santa Clara improved to 13-7 on the season after a 103-99 win over Gonzaga on Saturday. The Broncos were +15 underdogs going into the game, but they not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread.
Santa Clara trailed 45-44 at halftime but turned things around in the second half, scoring 59 points while allowing 54. The game’s total points reached 202, well over the pre-game O/U line of 161.5.
Santa Clara’s offense exploded for 103 points in their last game, shooting 53.7% from the field and hitting 18 threes at a 47.4% clip. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 67.2%, with strong two-point shooting at 62.1%.
Tyeree Bryan led the way with 35 points, hitting 7 of 12 from deep, while Nolan Hickman added 24 points, making 6 of 10 threes. Ryan Nembhard dished out 15 assists, and Ben Gregg was perfect from the field, going 5 for 5.
Santa Clara’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 99 points on 54% shooting from the field. They allowed the opposing team to hit 26 of their 38 two-point attempts, a 68% success rate.
From beyond the arc, the Broncos gave up 10 threes on 28 attempts, with the other team shooting 35%. They also sent the opponent to the line 23 times, where they made 17 free throws, a 73% clip.