Washington State (11-3) vs Loyola Marymount (8-5)
December 30, 2024 at 09:30 PM EST
The Line: Betting Odds: Washington State -8.5 / Loyola Marymount -8.5 — Over/Under: 150.5
The Loyola Marymount Lions are visiting the Washington State Cougars on Monday, December 30th at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Loyola Marymount Lions vs Washington State Cougars Prediction.
Washington State Cougars Preview
The Washington State Cougars have an 11-3 record this season and are coming off an 89-73 win in Portland. The Cougars are 9-5 against the spread, and 7-7 in over/under, while having a 5-0 home record.
Offensively, Washington State is averaging 81.5 points per game, which ranks 61st in the nation. Defensively, they allow 74.5 points per game (264th). The Cougars shoot 49.5% from the field (28th) and 36.2% from beyond the arc (83rd). The Cougars shoot 69.7% from the free-throw line (232nd) and are grabbing 37.2 rebounds per game (141st).
Nate Calmese leads Washington State in scoring with an average of 16.1 points and a team-high 4.6 assists, while LeJuan Watts adds 13.3 points and a team-high 7.9 rebounds.
Loyola Marymount Lions Preview
The Loyola Marymount Lions have an 8-5 record this season and are coming off a 55-70 loss in San Francisco. The Lions are 5-7 against the spread, and 4-8 in over/under while having a 0-3 road record.
Offensively, Loyola Marymount is averaging 71.6 points per game, which ranks 273rd in the nation. Defensively, they allow 69.3 points per game (130th). The Lions shoot 43.2% from the field (267th) and 33.6% from beyond the arc (193rd). The Lions shoot 70.1% from the free-throw line (214th) and are grabbing 36.2 rebounds per game (193rd).
Jevon Porter leads Loyola Marymount in scoring with an average of 14.2 points and a team-high 7.8 rebounds, while Caleb Stone-Carrawell adds 12.9 points.
Why the Washington State Cougars will win
- Washington State has won each of its last nine Monday games.
- Loyola Marymount has lost 10 of its last 12 games against the West Coast Conference.
- Washington State has won the first half in 14 of its last 15 games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
Why the Loyola Marymount Lions will win
- Loyola Marymount has won five of its last six games.
- Washington State has lost seven of its last nine night games against the West Coast Conference.
- Loyola Marymount has won the first half in four of its last five night games against the West Coast Conference.
Loyola Marymount Lions vs Washington State Cougars Prediction
In this Loyola Marymount Lions vs Washington State Cougars Prediction, Washington State is coming as -8.5 home favorites. Washington State is better offensively, scoring 9.9 points more than Loyola Marymount, while Loyola Marymount is better defensively, allowing 5.2 points less. The Cougars are winning by an average of 7 points this season, while the Lions are winning by 2.3 points. The Cougars have superior shooting percentages, ranking in the top 90 of the nation, and have been undefeated at home, while the Lions are winless on the road. the value here lies with the home team, so pick the Washington State Cougars and lay the points at home.