Pepperdine Waves vs Washington State Cougars Picks and Predictions for Saturday January 24 2026

By: Kim Smith Published 01/24/2026, 01:55 AM ET

The Pepperdine Waves head to Beasley Coliseum to face the Washington State Cougars on Saturday, January 24, 2026, with tipoff scheduled for 6:00 PM. This non-conference matchup will be televised on ESPN+. Washington State is listed as -485 favorites on the moneyline, while Pepperdine comes back at +370. The total is set at 146.5 points, with both the Over and Under priced at -110, and the spread favors Washington State by 10.5 points. Make sure to check out our free college basketball picks for more betting insight.

Waves Facing a Difficult Road Test

Pepperdine enters this matchup with a 6-15 overall record and has struggled on the road. In their last five games, the Waves recently lost to Gonzaga, San Francisco, San Diego, and Pacific, while picking up a win over Portland.

Pepperdine averages 69.1 points per game and allows 75.9 points defensively. They shoot 42% from the field and often struggle to keep pace with higher-scoring teams.

One area of concern for Pepperdine has been defensive consistency, as they have allowed opponents to control tempo and pull away early.

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Cougars Looking to End a Skid at Home

Washington State comes into the game with an 8-13 overall record and has dropped four straight games. The Cougars recently lost to San Diego, San Francisco, Gonzaga, and Saint Mary’s, with their last win coming against Oregon State.

Washington State averages 75.7 points per game while allowing 77.8 points defensively. They shoot 47% from the field and play with decent offensive balance.

Rebounding and interior scoring are areas where the Cougars can take advantage, especially against a Pepperdine team that struggles defensively.

Pepperdine Waves vs Washington State Cougars Pick

Pepperdine Waves vs Washington State Cougars Spread Pick

Pick: Washington State Cougars -10.5

Washington State has a clear talent edge and should be able to take control early at home. Pepperdine’s defensive issues make it difficult to trust them to stay within the number.

Pepperdine Waves vs Washington State Cougars Total Pick

Pick: Over 146.5

I’m backing the Over because both teams allow a high number of points defensively, and Washington State should be able to score efficiently throughout the game.

Final Score Prediction: Washington State 82, Pepperdine 66

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