Eastern Washington vs Sacramento State Basketball Prediction & Picks: Soaring Eagles seek 13th straight win

Entering today, there are four college basketball teams that are currently on win streaks of ten or more games: Florida Atlantic (20 games), Eastern Washington (12 games), Colgate (10 games), Saint Mary’s (10 games).

Three of the four are in action tonight, and while Saint Mary’s should be able to dispatch San Francisco at home, FAU and EWU both have tough road tests to navigate if their streaks are to remain intact.

For the Eagles (16-7, 10-0 Big Sky), who lead the Big Sky by two games over Montana State, tonight sees them visit Sacramento State (12-10, 5-4 Big Sky), who played them closer in their first meeting than any team who has visited Cheney this season.

Will the Eagles feel the sting of the Hornets tonight at The Nest? Read on for our Eastern Washington vs Sacramento State prediction, as well as our picks for tonight’s matchup in California’s capital.

Eastern Washington vs Sacramento State Odds

Odds are via BetOnline as of Thursday, February 2, 2023, at 5:00 pm ET. This article may also include odds from our other recommended legal sports betting sites.

Spread

• Eastern Washington -1.5 (-104)
• Sacramento State +1.5 (-118)

Over/Under

• Over 137.5 (-114)
• Under 137.5 (-106)

Moneyline

• Eastern Washington -118
• Sacramento State -102

Can Eastern Washington Survive Another Close Call?

When the Eagles and Hornets met in Cheney on January 7, it appeared for most of the game like EWU was going to bag a blowout win at home.

At halftime, the Eagles led by 21, and with 13:25 left in the second half, they took their biggest lead of the game, a 26-point advantage at 63-37.

Then things got interesting. Less than six minutes after trailing by 26, the Hornets were within single digits thanks to a 21-4 run that featured five three-pointers.

Eastern Washington’s Steele Venters then made two threes to put the Eagles up 73-62 with 5:29 left, but the Hornets were undeterred and rallied to tie the game at 75-all with 15 seconds left on Zach Chappell’s fifth three of the game.

But that furious rally proved to be in vain as Venters saved the Eagles by draining his own fifth three of the night with two seconds left to deliver a 78-75 win.

That close shave is one of three three-point wins for EWU in Big Sky play, with the others coming at Montana State and Northern Arizona. And they are coming off of another close game, as they edged out Weber State by four at home last Saturday.

So, though the Eagles haven’t been burned yet in conference play, they have played with fire quite a bit, and a loss in one of these games may be inevitable.

But they are still motoring along unscathed, thanks in large part to their offensive production.

The Eagles are the Big Sky’s top team in offensive efficiency, and entering tonight, they have made 58.5% of their two-point shots.

Also, while the 75 points that Sacramento State scored in the first meeting is the second-most that the Hornets have scored in Big Sky play, the 78 points that Eastern Washington scored in the win is the seventh-most that the Eagles have scored in conference action.

Eastern Washington vs Sacramento State Prediction and Picks

E. Washington vs Sacramento St. Prediction: Eastern Washington to win

E. Washington vs Sacramento St. Picks: Eastern Washington ML (Best Value: BetOnline & BetUS) and Eastern Washington team total over (Best Value: over 68.5 @ BetUS)

The Eagles have had some close calls so far in conference play, and there’s a good chance that tonight’s game is another one.

But they keep finding ways to wriggle their way out of trouble and keep their win streak going, and I look for them to continue to do that tonight. If Eastern Washington scores 75+ points again, Sacramento State might find the going tough, as they are 3-7 when allowing 70+ points this season.

With over 70 games on today’s college basketball schedule, there’s no shortage of good betting options on the board. It doesn’t hurt to have some help to wade through it all, and while this is just one game on the slate, you can get premium sports picks at Doc’s Sports for a number of tonight’s games.

Not sure if you want to pay money for sports betting picks? Well, Doc’s Sports offers you a chance to try before you buy, with $60 in free premium picks if you sign up.