Eastern Washington Eagles vs Washington State Cougars 3/14/23 – On Tuesday night, Washington State Cougars (17-16 SU) will face off against Eastern Washington Eagles (22-10 SU) in the opening round of the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) inside Beasley Coliseum. Washington State defeated Eastern Washington earlier this season 82-56 and leads the all-time series 57-12. NCAAB experts online predict the Cougars to win in this rematch.
Eastern Washington Eagles vs Washington State Cougars
Date & Time: Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 11:00 PM ET
Location: Wallis Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum
TV: ESPU
Eastern Washington Eagles vs Washington State Cougars Betting Odds
Eastern Washington
Moneyline: +510
Spread: +13 (-110)
Total: 150 over (-110)
Washington State
Moneyline: -615
Spread: -13 (-110)
Total: 150 under (-110)
Eastern Washington Eagles vs Washington State Cougars Analysis
Eastern Washington Eagles earned an automatic bid into the NIT by winning the Big Sky regular season title. Despite going 16-2 in conference play, Eastern Washington fell victim to Northern Arizona’s game-winning 3-pointer, 81-80 for an upset victory. Eastern Washington was the Big Sky Conference’s leading offensive unit, averaging 77.1 points per game. They finished second in the conference with an impressive +5.7 point margin. Eastern Washington shot 49.3% from the field this season and led the conference with 8.8 three-pointers per contest; Steele Venters stood as one of the league’s top shooters, tallying 74 triples so far. Eastern Washington had the best field goal defense in the Big Sky Conference, holding opponents to 42.3% shooting for a season average of 71.4 points per game. They also possessed impressive shot blocking skills throughout the year, averaging more than 3.0 swats per contest; Ethan Price finished fourth with 30 blocks during that stretch.
Washington State Cougars is celebrating its second consecutive trip to the NIT, earning back-to-back postseason appearances for the first time since 2008 and 2009. Last year, they reached the semifinals of the NIT before falling short against Texas A&M. Washington State finished 11-9 this season in Pac-12 play and earned fifth place overall, but were upset by Oregon 75-70 in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament. Washington State rallied from a 19 point deficit but could not overcome Oregon’s 7-0 run to advance. Washington State will aim to replicate their defensive performance from earlier this season when they held the Eagles to just 56 points. The Cougars rank third in Pac-12 scoring defense with an average of 65.3 points allowed per game. Washington State boasted two of the Pac-12’s top scorers in TJ Bamba and Mouhamed Gueye, who combined for more than 30 points per game this season.
Eastern Washington Eagles vs Washington State Cougars Against the Spread
Eastern Washington are 13-6-1 ATS in their last 20 games. The total has gone OVER in 4 of Eastern Washington’s last 5 games. Eastern Washington are 17-3 SU in their last 20 games. Eastern Washington are 1-7 SU in their last 8 games against Washington State. Eastern Washington are 8-1 SU in their last 9 games on the road. The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Eastern Washington’s last 5 games when playing on the road against Washington State.
Washington State are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games. The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington State’s last 6 games. Washington State are 7-1 SU in their last 8 games. The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Washington State’s last 6 games against Eastern Washington. Washington State are 14-3 SU in their last 17 games at home. The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Washington State’s last 5 games when playing at home against Eastern Washington.
Eastern Washington Eagles vs Washington State Cougars Free Pick
Eastern Washington finished the season ranked 11th nationally in field goal percentage, but Washington State’s formidable scoring defense already got the better of them once this year. The increased competition proved daunting for Eastern Washington as they faced off against one of college basketball toughest competitions yet this season. The Cougars possess too much balance, and another double-double from Gueye will prove too much for Eastern Washington to handle. Take Cougars to cover the huge spread and win this game according to NCAAB betting lines.
Free Pick: Washington State Cougars -13 (-110)
