Idaho State vs Portland State Prediction 1/25/25 College Basketball Picks

The Idaho State Bengals and the Portland State Vikings meet Saturday in college basketball action from Stott Center. Here’s an Idaho State vs Portland State prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Idaho State vs Portland State pick. We will examine:

The Idaho State Bengals’ recent form and player performance

The Portland State Vikings’ recent form and player performance

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Idaho State Bengals

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Portland State Vikings

Recent betting trends in games played between Idaho State and Portland State

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Idaho State vs Portland State game

Idaho State Bengals Betting Preview

The Bengals have been trying—and failing—to stay above the .500 mark this year. It’s been a pretty choppy run in the record column so far. Idaho State opened on a 6-6 stretch through their first dozen outings. The six losses during that time came courtesy of Arizona State, USC, Cal State Fullerton, UCLA, South Dakota, and Utah Valley. Since then it’s been another sketchy stretch of 2-3 ball over the last five games. The two wins in that quintet came courtesy of Montana State and Montana. Otherwise, it was losses to Northern Colorado, Weber State, and Sacramento State, giving the Bengals an 8-9 overall run through 17 games so far this year.

In the Sacramento State game on Thursday, the Bengals emerged from the locker room trailing by just one point 33-32. Idaho State didn’t end up getting any closer than that on a 42-39 second half, however, and fell in the end 75-71. Leading the team in scoring during the defeat was Dylan Darling with 25 points, seven assists, and three rebounds. Jake O’Neil managed to double up in the defeat with 16 points and 12 rebounds in 32 minutes of work on the floor.

Portland State Vikings Betting Preview

Over on the Portland State side, they were looking pretty rough in early December but since then they’ve been able to string together a nice run. The Vikings sat at 4-5 on December 7 after taking losses versus Washington State, Milwaukee, St. Thomas MN, Seattle U, and Denver in that time. Over the last 10 games however, Portland State has gone 8-2 with wins over Northwest Indian, Pacific, Cal State Bakersfield, Walla Walla, Eastern Washington, Idaho, Northern Arizona, and Weber State alongside losses to only Sac State and Northern Colorado. The result has been a 12-7 overall run through the first 19 games of the 2024-25 season.

Matched up against Weber State in their latest game on Thursday, the Vikings held a 39-29 edge by the break. Portland State hit a 35-27 run the rest of the way during an eventual win 74-56. All five starters finished in double-figures, including team leaders Isaiah Johnson and Jaylin Henderson, each with 14 points. Tre-Vaughn Minott managed to double up with 13 points, 11 boards, and four blocks in 27 minutes on the court as well.

Why the Portland State Vikings will win

• Portland State has won each of its last six games against the Big Sky Conference at Viking Pavilion.
• Idaho State has lost 19 of its last 22 day games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Idaho State has lost the first half in each of its last five road games.

Idaho State vs Portland State Prediction

I’m staying with Portland State. The Vikings are coming off a nice effort versus a struggling Weber State team in their last outing. Portland State put up 49.2 percent shooting in that one with a 43-30 rebounding advantage. The foul shooting (7-of-12 for 58.3 percent and turnovers (12 for seven Wildcats points) could have been better, though. Still, Portland State has reached 69 points or higher during four straight games (a 3-1 run) and should be in good shape coming into this matchup.

Idaho State has scored well lately with 69 or more points in six straight (a 3-3 record) but they’re also giving up some decent totals to solid offenses. Portland State should have plenty of opportunities to score on Saturday.