Washington State vs Eastern Washington Prediction NCAAB 3/14

Washington State Cougars (17-16, 11-9 Pac-12) and Eastern Washington Eagles (22-10, 16-2 Big Sky) are set to face off in the National Invitation Tournament. While neither team made it to March Madness, they have a chance to make some noise in the NIT. Here's a breakdown of both teams and our prediction for the matchup.

Washington State Cougars

The Cougars had a mediocre season, finishing ninth in the Pac-12, but they have some potential. They are led by Justin Powell, who averages 2.8 assists per game, and TJ Bamba, who has been averaging 18.4 points over the last 10 games. In their last 10 games, they've gone 7-3, averaging 68.8 points per game and shooting 42.7% from the field.

Eastern Washington Eagles

The Eagles dominated their conference with a 16-2 record against Big Sky opponents. Casey Jones leads the team with 5.7 rebounds per game, while Steele Venters is averaging 2.3 made 3-pointers per game and scoring 15.3 points while shooting 38.3% from beyond the arc. Angelo Allegri has been shooting 54.7% and averaging 16.0 points over the past 10 games. In their last 10 games, they've gone 7-3, averaging 79.5 points per game and shooting 52.6% from the field.

Betting Trends

According to Vegas odds, the Eagles are favored by 2.5 points, and the over/under is set at 145 points. However, the trends are in favor of the Cougars, who have covered the spread in five of their last seven games as an underdog. The total has also gone under in five of the last seven games for the Cougars.

Injuries

Both teams are relatively healthy heading into the matchup, with no major injuries to report.

Prediction

This is a tough matchup to call, as both teams have had their moments this season. However, we're giving the slight edge to Eastern Washington, who have been playing some excellent basketball in their last 10 games. Look for them to dominate the boards and shoot the ball efficiently from beyond the arc.

Pick: Eastern Washington Eagles (-2.5)