Idaho State Bengals vs Seattle U Redhawks Prediction, Odds, Best Bets - Week 2

Seattle U is 1-2 and laying 16.5 at home, a big number for a team scoring 70.3 points a game. Idaho State is 0-3, but MaCarhy Morris is scoring 18.0 a game and the Bengals block 6.0 shots a game.

The Matchup

Idaho State visits Seattle U on Saturday at 9:00 PM CT at Redhawk Center in Seattle, Washington, on ESPN+, with Seattle U a 16.5-point favorite, a total of 144.5, and the Redhawks at -1,600 on the moneyline against +900 for the Bengals. Idaho State plays in the Big Sky Conference; Seattle U plays in the West Coast Conference.

Seattle U is 1-2, scoring 70.3 points a game and allowing 73.3 this season. The Redhawks lost 74-73 to Hawai'i, beat Portland State 79-60, and lost 86-59 at UTSA on Thursday. Will Heimbrodt leads them at 18.7 points and 3.3 assists a game, and Halvine Dzellat leads them at 7.7 rebounds a game. Heimbrodt and Dzellat carry no injury designations into this game. Seattle U deals only 9.7 assists a game, so the offense runs through individual creation more than flow.

Idaho State is 0-3, scoring 67.3 points a game and allowing 92.0 this season, with losses at Utah State 94-58, at Wyoming 93-62, and at Air Force 89-82. MaCarhy Morris leads the Bengals at 18.0 points and 3.3 assists a game, and Malachi Johnson leads them at 6.0 rebounds a game.

Morris and Johnson carry no injury designations into this game. Last season matters here because three road losses can bury a team that is not actually this bad: Idaho State went 13-20 last season, scoring 73.6 a game and allowing 80.6, while Seattle U went 21-14, scoring 66.9 and allowing 68.3. The Bengals' defense has been poor, but the schedule, Utah State and Wyoming on the road, explains part of it.

Key Factors

Seattle U's offense is the first factor, because laying 16.5 requires scoring, and the Redhawks score 70.3 a game with 9.7 assists a game and 15.3 turnovers a game. That is a careless, low-flow offense, and careless favorites let underdogs hang around with free possessions. Heimbrodt at 18.7 a game is a real scorer, but he has little help if Idaho State loads up on him.

Idaho State's rim protection is the second factor. The Bengals block 6.0 shots a game, and Seattle U blocks 5.0 a game itself, so this projects as a game played in traffic, with a total of only 144.5. Low totals make big spreads harder to cover, because every empty trip protects the underdog.

The honest counterpoint is Idaho State's defense on the road, which has allowed 94, 93 and 89 points in three games while shooting 35 percent itself. If Seattle U's pressure, 7.7 steals a game, turns the Bengals over early, the Redhawks can run for once, and a team that cannot score cannot protect any number once the game speeds up.

Every pick is published with its line before the game. Odds via consensus sportsbooks at time of writing and move constantly. Must be 21+. If gambling is a problem, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.