| MATCHUP | Portland Pilots | Washington State Cougars |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 10-13 | 10-13 |
| Spread | +8.5 -108 | -8.5 -112 |
| Moneyline | +320 | -410 |
| Total | Over 152.5 (-105) | Under 152.5 (-115) |
| Where | Beasley Coliseum, Pullman, WA | |
| When | Saturday, January 31, 2026 | |
| Time | 06:00 PM EST | |
| TV | ESPN+ | |
The Portland Pilots and the Washington State Cougars meet Saturday in college basketball action from Beasley Coliseum in Pullman. Here’s a Portland vs Washington State prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Portland vs Washington State pick. We will examine the recent form and player performances for both teams, as well as the recent betting trends and streaks pertaining to this matchup. As we conclude, we will tie it all together with a summary that produces a sensible pick for a favorable betting outcome in this game.
Portland Pilots Betting Preview
The Pilots lost to Wyoming, Northern Colorado and St. Thomas-MN in their first seven games, then hit a 3-1 run that featured only a loss to Stanford during that time. Portland would then hit the skids on a six-game losing streak in December. After that the Pilots won three of the next five over Pacific, Oregon State and Loyola Marymount. That would give Portland a 10-12 record in their first 22 outings.
On Wednesday versus Pacific, the Pilots were demolished in the first half, sitting in the locker room with a 40-21 deficit. Portland fell even further behind from there, hitting a 34-30 run on the way to a rough 74-51 blowout loss on the road. Joel Foxwell was the only player on the team to finish in double-digits with 13 points, three assists and two rebounds in 28 minutes of work.
Washington State Cougars Betting Preview
Over on the Washington State side, they hit a .500 run at 3-3 over their first six games, then lost to Arizona State, Seton Hall, Bradley, Nevada and USC. After a 5-1 run that featured only a loss to Seattle U in there, Washington State lost to Saint Mary’s, Gonzaga, San Francisco and San Diego before getting a win over Pepperdine. That would make for a 9-13 record over the first 22 games this year.
Matched up against Seattle U on Wednesday the Cougars posted a pretty strong first half and were up 36-30 going into the second. From there Washington State hit a 34-28 advantage and cruised to the win at home 70-58 in the end. Rihards Vavers was the leading team scorer with his 24 points and five rebounds, while Ace Glass had 14 points with two rebounds and two assists.
Portland Pilots @ Washington State Cougars Betting Trends: January 31, 2026
Why the Washington State Cougars will win
- Portland has lost 18 of its last 20 road day games against the West Coast Conference.
- The home team has won each of Washington State’s last four games.
- Portland has lost the first half in seven of its last nine road day games against the West Coast Conference.
Portland vs Washington State Prediction
I’ll lean toward Washington State. The Cougars posted a pretty good effort against a visiting Seattle team this week, shooting a very nice 55.6 percent from the field with a 37-26 rebounding advantage. It wasn’t all perfect though, as Washington State shot just 63.2 percent (12-of-19) from the line and had a whopping 19 turnovers along the way. Still, that gives the Cougars consecutive wins (both at home) following four straight losses (three on the road), and Saturday’s game is another home matchup.
As for Portland, they had a pretty miserable time against a good Pacific team this week. The Pilots shot just 31 percent from the field in that one with a 38-12 deficit on points in the paint and 13 turnovers. Portland has lost three of the last four games, and they’ve failed to hit 70 points in all three of those defeats.