The USC Trojans (11-16) travel to face off against the Washington State Cougars (21-7) on Thursday, February 29th. This game will be played at Friel Court in Pullman and televised on PACN. USC is coming off a win in their previous game, while Washington State is looking to get back on track from a loss to the Arizona State. Tip-off is set for 10:30 ET.
USC Trojans vs Washington State Cougars
The USC Trojans Are Coming Off A Win
USC has struggled on the road this season, going just 3-9 away from home. Their average scoring margin on the road is -6.7 points per game.
So far, the Trojans have been the underdog in 11 of their 27 games, going 1-10 in those contests. They are 11-16 overall and 5-11 in Pac-12 play.
As the underdog, USC has struggled against the spread this season, going just 3-8. Their overall ATS mark is 12-15, but they have gone just 1-2 against the spread in their last three road games and 1-4 vs. the spread in their last five games as the underdog. Over their last 10 games as the underdog, the Trojans are just 3-7 vs. the spread.
This season, the over/under record for USC games is 16-10-1. Today’s over/under line of 138 is lower than the average OU line in their games this season (147.5). Over their last three games, their games have averaged 143 points compared to their season average of 149 points per game.
The Washington State Cougars Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
Washington State enters this game with a record of 21-7, including a 12-5 mark in Pac-12 play. They are 14-3 at home this season, and their average scoring margin at home is +12.9 points per game.
They are coming off a 73-61 loss to Arizona State, but they have won four of their last five games at home, and their record in their last 10 games at home is 8-2.
As the favorite, Washington State has gone just 9-10 vs. the spread this season. However, their ATS mark at home is 9-8, and over their last three home games, they are 3-0 ATS. The Cougars’ overall ATS record is 15-12-1.
Washington State’s over/under record this season is 12-16 and the average over/under line in their games is 141.9. So far, 15 of their games have finished with more points than today’s line of 138. Over their last three games, the average scoring total is 138 points and their OU record during this stretch is 0-3.
USC Offense Breakdown
In contrast to their season average of 74.2 points per game, the USC had a below average performance. They scored 62 points against UCLA and had a field goal percentage of 44%. Leading the team in scoring is Boogie Ellis, who is averaging 17 heading into today’s matchup. Additionally, Isaiah Collier also maintains a PPG average of 16 heading into game.
| Name | PPG | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boogie Ellis (G) | 17.0 | 3.7 | 3.2 |
| Isaiah Collier (G) | 16.0 | 2.8 | 4.3 |
| Kobe Johnson (G) | 10.3 | 4.2 | 3.2 |
Washington State Offense Breakdown
Compared to their season average of 75 points per game, Washington State struggled in their previous game. Against Arizona State, the Cougars scored 61 points while finishing with a field goal percentage of 39.3%. The team’s top scorer is Isaac Jones, who comes into today’s matchup with an average of 15.8, while Myles Rice also maintains a PPG average of 15.4 leading up to the game.
| Name | PPG | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isaac Jones (F) | 15.8 | 7.7 | 1.5 |
| Myles Rice (G) | 15.4 | 3.0 | 3.7 |
| Jaylen Wells (F) | 11.6 | 4.4 | 1.0 |
USC Team Defense
The Trojans’ defense is presently ranked 240th nationally, allowing an average of 74.8 points per contest. Against UCLA in their most recent game, the USC defense gave up a total of 56 points while allowing UCLA to hit 33% of their shots.
Washington State Team Defense
In the current season, the Washington State defense has excelled, sitting 54th in the nation by allowing 67.0 points per game. On average, opposing teams are hitting 5.9 threes per game vs. USC. This has come on three-point shooting percentage of 33.1%.
Trojans vs Cougars Trends
- Through their last three road contests, the Trojans offense has averaged 69 points per game while allowing an average of 79. USC posted an overall record of 1-2 while going 1-2 ATS.
- Washington State has played well in their previous five home games, going 4-1 straight up. In this stretch, they averaged 67 points per game while allowing 64. The team also performed well vs the spread at 3-2.
- As the betting underdog, the Trojans have an ATS mark of just 1-4 in their last five games. USC posted a straight up mark of 1-4 in these matchups.
- The Cougars have played well in their last three games as the betting favorite, going 2-1 straight up and 2-1 against the spread.
Trojans vs Cougars Prediction
For a point-spread bet in this Cougars vs. Cougars matchup, we’re leaning towards the Cougars at -8. Although our projections show the Cougars winning 75-70, we suggest placing your bet on the Trojans for the point-spread.
As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 138 and our model has the Trojans and Cougars finishing with a combined 145 points. Our pick is to take the over.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:February 29, 2024 USC Trojans, Washington State Cougars