Washington State Cougars vs Pepperdine Waves

This NCAAB matchup features Washington State Cougars (12-18 (9-6)) traveling to take on Pepperdine Waves (8-22 (6-10)) at Firestone Fieldhouse, Malibu, CA. The Washington St hold a clear statistical edge this season, outperforming the Pepperdine by 6.8 points per game in scoring margin. That differential will be a key factor in this matchup. Pepperdine averages 71.9 points per game, but they face a Washington St defense that holds opponents to 77.3 PPG. The visitors' defensive prowess could limit the home team's scoring output. Meanwhile, Washington St scores 76.3 PPG but faces a Pepperdine defense that limits opponents to 79.7 PPG. The home team's defensive effort could be the difference-maker. Home court advantage is worth approximately 3.5 points in NCAAB, and Pepperdine will look to leverage their home crowd. Our model projects Washington St to win by approximately 3.6 points. The 68% confidence interval ranges from Pepperdine winning by 9 to losing by 16. The market has this game at +7.5, but our model sees value on Pepperdine with a 3.9-point edge. Our line: Pepperdine +3.6. Combined with the total projection of 148 versus the market line of 157.5, there are opportunities to find value on both sides of this matchup.

Pepperdine has struggled this season at 8-22 (6-10). The wins have been hard to come by, and the team is looking for answers on both ends of the floor. Home court advantage will be critical for any chance at pulling off an upset. It's been a difficult season for Washington St at 12-18 (9-6). Traveling to face Pepperdine presents a significant challenge, though every game is a chance to build for the future. When these teams meet, the home team typically has the edge given the crowd advantage and familiarity factor. The team that controls tempo and limits turnovers will likely dictate the outcome of this matchup.