Northern Colorado Bears vs Washington State Cougars Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Northern Colorado vs Washington State NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Pullman.

Northern Colorado vs Washington State Prediction

Looking to win big? The Bears and Cougars face off at 9:30 ET on ESPN+. The Cougars are hosting the game at Friel Court in Pullman, WA. The over/under for this non-conference contest is set at 158.5 points, with Washington State being favored by -11.5 over Northern Colorado.

Northern Colorado vs. Washington State Matchup At A Glance

  • Sport: NCAAB
  • Teams: Northern Colorado Bears at Washington State Cougars
  • Where: Pullman at Friel Court
  • Date: Monday, November 18th
  • Betting Odds WASHST -11.5, NCOL +404 | WASHST -570 O/U 158.5

Bears Preview: Will Northern Colorado Shock Everyone at Friel Court?

Northern Colorado Bears Recent Game/Games

The Bears picked up a 78-69 road win over South Dakota State on Thursday, November 14th. Entering the game as +3.5 point underdogs, Northern Colorado not only secured the win but also covered the spread.

After leading 43-33 at halftime, the Bears scored 35 points in the 2nd half while allowing 36. The game’s total points ended at 147, falling just under the O/U line of 153.

Bears Offense Breakdown

Northern Colorado put up 78 points in their last game, shooting 48.4% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 56.2%. They were strong inside, hitting 62.9% of their two-point attempts, while struggling from beyond the arc, connecting on just 31% of their threes.

Oscar Cluff led the way with 22 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 61.5% from the floor. Zach Bloch was efficient from deep, hitting 5 of 6 threes and finishing with 15 points.

Bears Team Defense

Despite giving up 69 points, Northern Colorado's defense held strong, limiting their opponent to just 32% shooting from the field. The Bears were particularly effective in defending the three-point line, where they allowed only 5 made threes on 27 attempts, an 18% shooting performance.

Inside the arc, Northern Colorado's defense gave up 18 two-point baskets on 44 attempts, a 40% shooting rate. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 20 times, where they converted 18 of those attempts, shooting 90% from the stripe. The Bears gave up 17 offensive rebounds in the game.

Cougars Preview: Does Washington State Have What it Takes at Home?

Washington State Cougars Recent Game/Games

Washington State dropped to 1-2 on the season after a 76-66 loss to Iowa on Friday. The Cougars were +5.5 point underdogs going into the game and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 142, well under the O/U line of 171.5.

WSU led 36-33 at halftime but struggled in the 2nd half, scoring only 30 points while allowing 43. They'll need to tighten up defensively and find more consistency on offense as they move forward.

Cougars Offense Breakdown

Washington State's offense struggled from beyond the arc in their last game, hitting just 5 of 28 three-point attempts for a 17.9% shooting percentage. Overall, they shot 39.4% from the field, with an effective field goal percentage of 42.4%. Inside the arc, they were more efficient, connecting on 55.3% of their two-point shots.

Nate Calmese led the Cougars with 27 points, shooting 54.5% from the field, though he made just 1 of 5 threes. Owen Freeman added 21 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 60% overall. Payton Sandfort contributed 18 points, but struggled from deep, hitting only 2 of 10 attempts.

Cougars Team Defense

Washington State's defense gave up 76 points, allowing the opposing team to shoot 41% from the field. Inside the arc, they conceded 17 two-point field goals on 35 attempts, a 48% shooting rate.

From three-point range, the Cougars' defense held their opponent to 8 made threes on 26 attempts, a 30% success rate. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 27 times, where they converted 18 free throws, shooting 66%.

Bears vs Cougars Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

  • Although Northern Colorado has a straight up record of 5-5 in their last ten road games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 7-3. The team averaged 80 points per game in these games.
  • Although Washington State has a straight up record of 0-3 in their last three home games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 0-3. The team averaged 61 points per game in these games.
  • Spanning across their last five games as the betting underdog, the Bears have gone 5-0 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 2-3.
  • In their last five games as the betting favorite, the Cougars have a strong straight up record of 4-1. In addition, their ATS record was 3-2 in these scenarios.

Northern Colorado vs Washington State Prediction & Free Pick

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