Davidson Wildcats vs Washington St Cougars prediction: Washington State's brand-new roster debuts against a Davidson team with continuity
The Cougars bring back almost nothing from a losing season, and Davidson, the team that routed them last November, brings back nearly half its minutes.
| Spread | Washington State -3 |
|---|---|
| Total (over/under) | 149.5 |
- Expect a slow, half-court game in which Davidson's continuity tests a Washington State roster that has never played a meaningful game together.
- Ronnie Harrison's first night as Washington State's go-to scorer against a Davidson team that ranked 41st nationally in block rate last season.
- Washington State is favored by 2.75, down from 3, and the total has dipped to 149; Davidson's 65.4% foul shooting last season matters late.
A roster built from scratch
Season openers usually carry some carryover. Washington State's carries almost none. Players on this year's roster logged 0.1% of the Cougars' minutes last season, and all but two players from last year's team are gone. Among the departures is Ace Glass, who averaged 16.4 points before leaving for Vanderbilt, along with ND Okafor, now at Mississippi State.
David Riley, in his third season, is starting over after a 12-20 finish. That makes last season's team numbers close to useless here. The Cougars' adjusted defense, measured in points allowed per 100 possessions and adjusted for opponents, ranked 217th at the end of last season, but almost none of the players behind that number remain. The only live evidence is the exhibition slate, which included a 92-64 loss at New Mexico. Exhibitions are noisy, but that one shows how far this group may have to go.
Davidson brings a core back
Davidson returns 45% of last season's minutes, which counts as stability in the transfer era. Matt McKillop, in his fourth season, has a returning anchor in senior forward Josh Scovens, who scored 11.1 points per game last season on 55.5% shooting and started every game.
The Wildcats also lost their best shooting. Roberts Blums (now at Penn State) and Parker Friedrichsen (now at Washington) each made more than 40% of their threes, at 40.7% and 40.5%. Davidson shot 36.0% from three as a team last season, 64th nationally, and that kind of accuracy has to be rebuilt. The biggest arrival is Nick Janowski, who scored 16.1 points per game at St. Thomas. Nick Coval is the returning guard most likely to take some of the open threes.
Who scores for the Cougars
Ronnie Harrison is expected to carry the Washington State offense. The forward averaged 14.7 points at East Texas A&M last season and used 27% of his team's possessions while on the floor, a featured-scorer workload. Fraser Roxburgh, the Cougars' first commitment of the offseason, started 31 of 32 games at Manhattan. Sebastian Akins (Wake Forest), Jaylen Harrell (Providence), Lazerek Houston and Jamari Phillips round out a group of newcomers learning each other in real time.
Harrison's drives will run into a Davidson team that ranked 41st in block rate last season, though only 45% of its minutes return. Whether Washington State can score inside without settling for contested jumpers is the most important unknown of the night.
Tempo, the line and the foul line
Davidson played slowly last season. Its pace last season was 64.6 possessions per 40 minutes, 319th nationally. The total has slipped from 149.5 to 149.
The spread has moved slightly toward Davidson, from Washington State -3 to -2.75, a short number for a home favorite on opening night. Davidson won last November's meeting 85-69 at home, though nearly every Cougar from that game is gone. The Wildcats have a weakness to watch late: they made 65.4% of their free throws last season, 359th in the country. If this game comes down to the final possessions, that number may decide it.
Davidson Wildcats vs Washington St Cougars line movement and odds
| Book | Wildcats ML | Cougars ML | Wildcats spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM | +125 | -150 | +2.5 (-105) | o149.5 (-105) |
| BetRivers | +118 | -148 | +2.5 (-115) | o149.5 (-110) |
| DraftKings | +130 | -155 | +3.5 (-118) | o149.5 (-108) |
| ESPN BET | +125 | -145 | +2.5 (-105) | o148.5 (-115) |
| Fanatics | +130 | -155 | +3 (-110) | o149.5 (-105) |
| FanDuel | +116 | -140 | +2.5 (-110) | o149.5 (-110) |
| Hard Rock Bet | +120 | -145 | +2.5 (-115) | o149.5 (-110) |
| Caesars | +126 | -150 | +3 (-110) | o149.5 (-110) |
Where the money is on Davidson Wildcats vs Washington St Cougars
On the Kalshi moneyline: Davidson Wildcats: 33% of bets, 57% of the money; Washington St Cougars: 68% of bets, 43% of the money. On the Kalshi spread: Washington St Cougars -2.5: 67% of bets, 56% of the money; Davidson Wildcats +2.5: 33% of bets, 44% of the money.
Key players
- Josh Scovens (Davidson): Scored 11.1 points per game last season on 55.5% shooting with a 119.4 offensive rating.
- Nick Janowski (Davidson): Averaged 16.1 points in 31.5 minutes per game at St. Thomas last season.
- Nick Coval (Davidson): Shot 36.5% from three and 84.3% at the line last season, the steadiest returning shooter.
- Ronnie Harrison (Washington State): Averaged 14.7 points and 6.1 rebounds at East Texas A&M last season with a 27% usage rate.
- Fraser Roxburgh (Washington State): Started 31 of 32 games at Manhattan last season, scoring 11.0 points per game.
- Sebastian Akins (Washington State): Made just 18% of his threes at Wake Forest last season in a reserve role.
Numbers that matter
| WSU returning minutes | 0.1% | Washington State's roster is almost entirely new, so last season's team numbers are a weak guide. |
|---|---|---|
| Davidson returning minutes | 45% | The Wildcats keep a core built around Josh Scovens, a rare continuity edge in an opener. |
| Spread | -2.75 | Washington State is a short home favorite after the line moved from -3 toward Davidson. |
| Davidson pace rank last season | 319th | The Wildcats played among the slowest tempos in the country, which pulls against a 149 total. |
| Davidson free throw % last season | 65.4% | That ranked 359th nationally, a late-game liability in a close game. |
Davidson Wildcats vs Washington St Cougars: quick answers
Who is favored in Davidson Wildcats vs Washington St Cougars?
Washington State is favored by 3 points (Washington State -3).
What is the over/under for Davidson Wildcats vs Washington St Cougars?
The total is 149.5 points.
When is Davidson Wildcats vs Washington St Cougars?
Monday, November 2, 2026 at 9:00 PM ET.
Has the line moved for Davidson Wildcats vs Washington St Cougars?
Yes: Davidson Wildcats opened +3 and is now +2.5, and the total is still 149.5 (consensus of the regulated US sportsbooks since we first saw the game).
Where is the money on Davidson Wildcats vs Washington St Cougars?
On the Kalshi moneyline: Davidson Wildcats: 33% of bets, 57% of the money; Washington St Cougars: 68% of bets, 43% of the money. On the Kalshi spread: Washington St Cougars -2.5: 67% of bets, 56% of the money; Davidson Wildcats +2.5: 33% of bets, 44% of the money.