Washington State vs. Washington Prediction, Odds and Key Players for Wednesday, December 18

In-state rivals meet late Wednesday night as each team looks to find its footing under first-year head coaches.

Washington State has shown promise under first-year head coach David Riley, who hails from Eastern Washington, already scoring wins over the likes of Nevada and Boise State this season. The team travels to Seattle to take on Washington, which has a little more trouble under first-year coach Danny Sprinkle of Utah State.

The Huskies have yet to beat a top 75 team, as of KenPom, can it score one against Washington State at home?

Let’s preview how to bet on this matchup between longtime rivals.

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Moneyline

Total: 148.5 (Over -115/Under -105)

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook

Washington State

Danish Erikestrup: The Eastern Washington transfer has thrived in his first season in Pullman, scoring 12 points per game. game while shooting 50% from the field as a big man making nearly 38% of his three-point shots.

Washington

Great Osobor: The Montana State transfer has some growing pains with Washington after a dominant lone season at Utah State, averaging just 14 points per game. game with a career-worst 41% field goal percentage. A smooth post presence, Osobor will look to find his footing against a rival in Washington State.

The Huskies aren’t gelling in Sprinkle’s offense, centering a ton of their focus around Osobor’s strong post presence.

The two-time transfer to Washington is playing at the worst levels of his career, and the team is not finishing well around the edge at all. Osobor’s gravitas as a skilled passer hasn’t worked well for the Huskies, who rank 242nd in near-rim field goal percentage and score at a bottom 100 rate on a points-per-possession basis.

The Cougars have a solid interior defense, top 40 in near-rim field goal percentage and an offense that can score both inside and out, shooting nearly 60% on twos and shooting at a near-top 100 three-point percentage.

The two teams seem to be at different points under first-year head coaches, and I’ll take the points with the underdog Cougars. It’s worth noting that backing Washington State as an underdog late in the game against a Washington team that is in the bottom 20 in the country in free throw percentage could be valuable.

PICK: Washington State +2.5

The odds are updated regularly and are subject to change.

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