Washington State vs. USC: How to watch, odds, picks, final score predictions from ESPN, KenPom

On3 imageby:Kaiden Smith02/02/23

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Pac-12 conference play charges on as Washington State takes on USC Thursday night. As the Cougars and Trojans get closer and closer to tip off, the predictions and betting odds – including KenPom analytics – are rolling in.

How to watch Washington State vs. USC

Tip-off: 11 p.m. ET

Location: Galen Center, Los Angeles, California

Channel: Fox Sports 1

Vegas odds

USC is a 6.5-point favorite over Washington State on Thursday, according to VegasInsider. The over-under is set at 132.5 points.

ESPN BPI prediction

Predicted winner: USC

Win probability (for USC): 70%

ESPN’s College Basketball Power Index (BPI) is a tool that measures team strength and uses that to predict outcomes of future performances. 

KenPom prediction

Predicted final score: USC 70, Washington State 65

Win probability (for Northwestern): 66%

KenPom is another tool that provides advanced analysis across college basketball. Like ESPN, KenPom projects that USC comes away with a victory over Washington State.

More on Washington State vs. USC

USC scored exactly 77 points in their last two games and won both of them, securing big wins over Arizona State and the conference’s top seed UCLA. The Trojans have gone 4-1 in their last five games, slowly but surely becoming one of the hottest teams in the Pac-12. Bogie Ellis and Drew Peterson have played lights out during the five-game stretch, exchanging who will be the team’s leading scorer from game to game. USC’s offense had been efficient all season, ranking third in the conference in points per game with 71.5 and in field goal percentage shooting 45.7% from the field.

The Trojan offense has been elite, but so has the Washington State defense. They too are ranked third in the Pac-12, but on the defensive end, holding opponents to just 64.7 points per game. The Cougars had been struggling as of late, going on a three-game losing skid before their most recent victory over Arizona State. In that game forward Andrej Jakimovski had a career-high 22 points that he could potentially carry into their matchup with the Trojans. USC may be the better and hotter team right now, but Washington State had bragging rights, as they defeated the Trojans 81-71 in their last matchup on January 1.