The Fresno State Bulldogs travel to face off with the Washington State Cougars in this exciting non conference matchup.  The Bulldogs are currently 5-3 on the season while the Cougars are 5-4.  Fresno State plays in the Mountain West Conference and Washington State is in the Pac-12.

Fresno State is in its inaugural year as a member of the Mountain West and probably couldn’t have picked a worse time to join the league.  This may be the strongest the conference has ever been with every team currently posting an above .500 record and 3 teams are in the top 25.  So far on the season the Bulldogs have shown a mixed bag of results as they really don’t have a signature win and have lost to the likes of Texas, Long Beach State, and Southern Illinois.  The Bulldogs have really struggled in creating assist and only average an abysmal 9.5 per game.  Additionally, Fresno State only has one member averaging double figures and that is Allen Huddleston.  The 6-2 junior guard from California is posting 12.5 ppg, 2.1, and 2.3 apg.

The Washington State Cougars had the Gonzaga Bulldogs on the ropes last time out but came up on the wrong end of a 71-69 decision.  The Cougars have been competitive in just about every game this season except for a lopsided 78-41 loss to the Kansas Jayhawks.  The Pac-12 figures to have improved from a down year last season so if Washington State hopes to be a player in the league they will need to learn how to squeak out these close games.  The Cougars are led by big man Brock Motum and the 6-10 senior forward is averaging 19.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, and 1.3 apg.

Prediction: I like Washington State in this game and my only concern is the hangover from the disappointing last second loss to Gonzaga.  The good news is that while Fresno State is a solid team but they shouldn’t be able to stop Washington State from getting the ball inside to Motum.  I think we are getting Washington State at a reasonable price and I am going to side with them in this game.