{"id":478853,"date":"2026-09-29T01:50:39","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T01:50:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/478853\/"},"modified":"2026-09-29T01:50:39","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T01:50:39","slug":"washington-state-vs-fresno-state-betting-odds-prediction-for-pac-12-opener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/478853\/","title":{"rendered":"Washington State vs. Fresno State betting odds, prediction for Pac-12 opener"},"content":{"rendered":"

In all the doom and gloom over a 1-3 start, Washington State University<\/a> wide receiver Darrius Clemons<\/a> presented a feel-good example from a past slow-start circumstance.<\/p>\n

And it involved his coach Kirby Moore<\/a> at one of his previous stops at Fresno State in 2022.<\/p>\n

“They started (1-4) and won out to win the Mountain West,” Clemons said. “That will probably come up in meetings and be a talking point. Hopefully we can things started on the right track in conference play.”<\/p>\n

Fresno State comes to Pullman on Saturday to face the Cougars in the Pac-12 opener for both programs.<\/p>\n

A common theme shared by both coaches in their Monday press conference was getting off to fast starts.<\/p>\n

For second-year Bulldogs coach Matt Entz, he needs to see it at the start of games. Fresno State has not scored a first-quarter point all season.<\/p>\n

“There is never a fast enough start for a coach,” Entz said. “You want the kids to hit the ground running.”<\/p>\n

And for Moore, he points to a commonality in each of the team’s three losses – slow-starting third quarters.<\/p>\n

What Moore won’t want to hear about this week’s opponent – the Bulldogs dominated the third quarter Saturday against Rice, recovering an onside kick, chewing up 11 minutes off the clock and scoring 10 points.<\/p>\n

“Looking at the three losses, our defense has been on the field way too much in the second half,” Moore said. |”And it’s really been that third quarter specifically.”<\/p>\n

Washington State opens as slight favorite over Fresno State<\/p>\n

WSU is now 3-1 in covering the spread this season.<\/p>\n

Caden Pinnick\u2019s 46-yard touchdown pass to Branden Ganashamoorthy with nearly 7 1\/2 minutes to go – and an ensuing defensive stand holding Arizona to a long field goal – were the biggest reasons underdog WSU covered a 10 1\/2-point spread for a third consecutive game in a 34-24 loss to Arizona last Saturday.<\/p>\n

The Cougars scored on a pair of fourth-quarter punt returns for touchdowns by Jaylen Thomas and Tank Hawkins Jr. in covering a 38 1\/2-point spread in a 48-7 victory over Duquesne, an FCS opponent, two Saturdays ago.<\/p>\n

Three weeks ago, the Cougars – who were 17 1\/2-point underdogs at Kansas State – lost 34-7 in Manhattan, Kansas.<\/p>\n

In the season-opening Apple Cup against then-No. 17 Washington in Seattle, WSU was a 23 1\/2-point underdog. The Cougars lost, 24-10.<\/p>\n

The Cougars have had middle-of-the-road success all-time as a home favorite – 80-23.<\/p>\n

The over\/under for this weekend\u2019s game is set at 46 1\/2 points, according to FanDuel Sportsbook<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This will be the seventh meeting between WSU and Fresno State, but the first as members of the same conference.<\/p>\n

The Cougars won the last matchup in 2024 – 25-17 in Fresno, California.<\/p>\n

Fresno State has played WSU four times in Pullman. The Bulldogs are 1-3, with their lone win in 1991 (34-30).<\/p>\n

The last time the Bulldogs covered in the series as an underdog was the 2022 LA Bowl. They came in as 5 1\/2-point underdogs, and won the game, 29-6.<\/p>\n

Pac-12 Week 5 betting lines<\/p>\n

All eight Pac-12 teams will again be in action on Saturday. Here are the early betting lines for all eight Week 5 games, listed in Pacific Time:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Oregon State (-5.5) at Colorado State, 3 p.m. (USA Network)<\/p>\n

\u2022 Utah State (+19.5) at Boise State, 4:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)<\/p>\n

\u2022 Fresno State (+2.5) at Washington State, 6:30 p.m. (USA Network)<\/p>\n

\u2022 Texas State (-4.5) at San Diego State, 7:30 p.m. (The CW)<\/p>\n

Washington State vs. Fresno State odds and prediction<\/p>\n

Spread: WSU -2.5<\/p>\n

Moneyline: WSU -125, Fresno State +104<\/p>\n

Over\/under: 46.5 points<\/p>\n

Records against the spread: WSU 3-1, Fresno State 3-1<\/p>\n

Game time: 6:30 p.m. Pacific time | Saturday, Oct. 3<\/p>\n

Television: USA Network<\/p>\n

Washington State Cougars On SI prediction: Cougars hit on necessary explosive plays against aggressive Fresno State defense to wrap up three-game homestand with a win.<\/p>\n

WSU 27, Fresno State 24<\/p>\n

Odds are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call\u00a01-800-GAMBLER<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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