The Portland State Vikings take on the Washington State Cougars on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 3 p.m. on The CW.
Portland State finished last season 5-6 (4-4) and will look to keep things close when it heads to Pullman. Washington State, meanwhile, went 5-7, including a 2-7 mark in the final season of the Pac-12.
The Cougars enter as -28.5 favorites, while the over/under sits at 58.5.
Where does the betting value lie for this Saturday afternoon showdown? Let's dive into my Portland State vs. Washington State prediction, pick and NCAAF odds for Saturday, Aug. 31 below.
Portland State vs Washington State Prediction
- Portland State vs. Washington State Prediction & Pick: Portland State +29
My Portland State vs Washington State best bet is on the Vikings to cover the spread, with the best line currently available at DraftKings, according to our live NCAAF odds page.
Portland State vs Washington State Odds
| Portland State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+27.5 -115 | 58.5 -105 / -115 | +1400 |
| Washington State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-27.5 -105 | 58.5 -105 / -115 | -4000 |
- Portland State vs Washington State Point Spread: Portland State +27.5 (-115) · Washington State -27.5 (-105)
- Portland State vs Washington State Total: Over/Under 58.5
- Portland State vs Washington State Moneyline: Portland State +1400 · Washington State -4000
Portland State vs Washington State Preview
Portland State Vikings Betting Preview: Can Vikes Keep Up?
Portland State hasn’t had a winning season since it snapped a 15-year playoff drought back in 2015.
Bruce Barnum returns for Year 10 in 2024. However, he has gone just 26-53 over the last eight years since the playoff appearance. Second-year offensive coordinator AC Patterson also returns, and Portland State lists co-defensive coordinators in Colin Fry and Mark Rhea.
Offensively, the Vikings bright back quarterback Dante Chachere, who showed dual-threat capabilities last year in passing for 1,573 yards with a 16:7 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He also added 773 yards on the ground as the team's leading rusher.
However, their top running back is gone, as are the top five leading producers at wide receiver. Portland State returns three on the offensive line.
Specifically, look for Brown University transfer Gavin Miller to help fill some holes.
Defensively, the Vikings bring back eight starters and 11 of their top 15 tacklers from last season. The defensive line is anchored by Kennedy Freeman, Slade Shufelt and Jordan Tagaloa, and they have an FBS transfer in from Nevada who could help with depth.
The focus this year will be on the pass rush, as Portland State recorded just nine total sacks last year. For this unit to have success, it has to create more pressure.
The Vikings return four linebackers who were in the rotation last season and have a seasoned, experienced secondary primed to improve their pass defense ratings. Tyreese Shakir, Michael Hurst and Travis West are players to watch for this unit.
Washington State Cougars Betting Preview: Changes on Offense?
Washington State is searching for a program identity. That's unsurprising considering it was left without a chair when the music stopped during the game of conference realignment musical chairs.
The Cougars rank 121st in returning experience and have just 10 returning starters. Gone is electric quarterback Cam Ward, who's off to Miami. Now, seldom-used John Mateer will take over starting duties.
While Mateer hasn't played a ton, he'll have a rock-solid offensive line with four starters back.
There are questions at the skill positions with Washington State planning to rotate three or four running backs to fill the void left by Nakia Watson. Watson somehow led the team in rushing last year with just 321 yards on the ground.
After the light rushing season, head coach Jake Dickert wants to focus more on running the ball — something the Cougs have struggled with in recent memory, as evidenced by Watson's team-leading numbers.
Wazzu failed to rush for 100 yards as a team in eight games last season, and production increases are needed if its offense wants to be effective.
They did start to build on the outside, however. Kyle Williams will step up as the top returning receiver, and the Cougars also added transfers from Oregon, Louisiana Tech and FCS Austin Peay.
The staff feels really good about where their team's at defensively, specifically the front seven. The interior of the line returns intact, but the Cougars are breaking in new defensive ends, including Utah Tech transfer Syrus Webster.
Five of the top six linebackers from last season return, anchored by Kyle Thornton.
The major question here is the secondary, where everyone is gone. The Cougars will have to rely on transfers from the G5 and JUCO levels to fill the gaps.
With inexperience here and at defensive end, the pass-defense metrics will likely suffer this year.
Portland State vs Washington State Pick & Prediction
I have major concerns about Washington State this year. The Cougars lost a significant amount of talent over the offseason and are no longer recruiting at a power conference level.
They have quite a few holes to replace on defense, and I'm not confident they'll have the pass rush to create Havoc and cause plays to break down.
Offensively, Washington State will not be as explosive as it's been in the past. If the Cougars make a concerted effort to run the ball more — which has not been their strong suit — things could go downhill in a hurry.
While Portland State isn't a strong team, it returns a veteran offensive line and a dual-threat quarterback in Chachere, who can keep drives alive in multiple ways.
He'll exploit Washington State's lack of pass rush and weakness in the secondary.
Wazzu has a history of playing down to FCS competition as well, as it's gone just 1-5 against the spread when facing FCS teams in the last six instances.
PSU has played well against FBS competition, though, going 4-2 ATS over the last three years.
Portland State +29.5 is worth a play to +28.
Pick: Portland State +29.5 (Play to +28)
How to Watch Portland State vs Washington State Live: Start Time, TV Channel, Location
| Location: | Martin Stadium, Pullman, WA |
| Date: | Saturday, Aug. 31 |
| Kickoff Time: | 3 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | The CW |
Portland State vs Washington State Betting Trends
- Portland State is taking 83% of bets but has generated only 67% of the money.
- The over has received only 29% of the tickets, but it has landed a whopping 73% of the money.
Portland State vs Washington State Weather
