Pacific vs Washington State Prediction 2/18/2026 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Pacific Tigers and the Washington State Cougars will meet on Wednesday night in a non‑conference matchup at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman, Washington.

Pacific Tigers Betting Preview

The Pacific Tigers enter Wednesday’s contest with a 17-11 record, including an 8-7 mark in conference play and a 4-9 record on the road. The Tigers have compiled wins over Nichols, Air Force, Long Beach State and the Jacksonville Dolphins, while losing games to BYU, California, Nevada and the Florida Atlantic Owls.

Earlier this season, in the Pacific Tigers 95–82 victory over the Nichols Colonels, Pacific forward Elias Ralph tallied 25 points (10 of 16 shooting from the field), 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block showcasing his ability to lead the Pacific Tigers frontcourt.

The Pacific Tigers average 72.7 points on 46.7 percent shooting from the field and 36.7 percent shooting from three-point range per game. Defensively, the Tigers are allowing opponents 69.3 points per contest which ranks 50th in the country.

Senior forward Elias Ralph leads the Pacific Tigers averaging 16.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block per game on 47.6 percent shooting and 88.1 percent shooting from the free‑throw line per game. Senior guard TJ Wainwright averages 13.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per contest, while senior forward Isaac Jack provides additional scoring depth averaging 9.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

Washington State Cougars Betting Preview

The Washington State Cougars enter Wednesday evening’s contest with an 11–16 overall record, including a 6–7 mark in conference play and an 8-5 record on the road. The Cougars have amassed wins over Oregon State, LMU, and Portland, while dropping games to Saint Mary’s, Seattle, and San Diego.

In the Washington State Cougars 81–67 win over the Oregon State Beavers earlier this season, Washington State guard Ace Glass tallied 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal.

The Washington State Cougars are averaging 76.1 points on 46.9 percent shooting from the field and 36.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc per game. Defensively, the Cougars are allowing opponents 77.4 points per contest.

Freshman guard Ace Glass leads the Washington State Cougars averaging 16.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1 steal per game. Forward ND Okafor contributes 10.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per contest anchoring the Cougars frontcourt. Junior forward Rihards Vavers averages 11.3 points, 3.8 rebounds on 47 percent shooting from the field per game.

Why the Pacific Tigers Will Win

•            Frontcourt play. Senior forward Elias Ralph leads the Pacific Tigers averaging 16.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block per game on 47.6 percent shooting and 88.1 percent shooting from the free‑throw line per game.

•            Defensive edge. The Tigers are allowing opponents 69.3 points per contest which ranks 50th in the country. Conversely, the Washington State Cougars are allowing 77.4 points per contest.

Why the Washington State Cougars Will Win

• Quality backcourt play. Freshman guard Ace Glass leads the Washington State Cougars backcourt averaging 15.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2 assists and 0.7 steals per game.

• Enhanced motivation. The Washington State Cougars arrive at tomorrow’s contest on the heels of a three-game losing streak.

Pacific Tigers vs. Washington State Prediction

This matchup features Pacific’s limited offensive ceiling against a Washington State team that has been dominant at home and continues to rely on one of the most efficient defenses in the conference. Pacific’s perimeter scoring gives them a path to competitiveness in short stretches, but Washington State’s interior strength and overall team efficiency present a difficult matchup for a Pacific Tigers team that has compiled a dreadful 4-9 record on the road in 2025. With that said, I am backing the Washington State Cougars to cover the 1.5 points in this game.

Hans Geevers's Pick: Washington State -1.5