Free NCAAF Pick: Wildcats vs. Cougars Odds
Looking for Arizona Wildcats vs. Washington State Cougars Free NCAA picks & NCAA odds? NCAAF betting sees the Wildcats taking on the Cougars on 9/26 at Martin Stadium, in Pullman, WA. This free NCAA football pick is based on matchup analysis and documented handicapping data tracked by CappersPicks since 2004, with a focus on identifying the strongest betting angle for this Wildcats Cougars matchup.
2026 NCAAF Handicapping – Arizona Wildcats vs Washington State Cougars
(2-1) Arizona Wildcats vs. Washington State Cougars (1-2)
Date: Sep 26, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Venue: Martin Stadium in Pullman, WA
NCAAF Moneyline Odds: Wildcats -415 | Cougars +311 (Bet Now!)
Today’s NCAAF Spread Betting Odds: Wildcats -10.5 | Cougars +10.5
NCAAF Football Gambling Total: O/U: 47.5
Here’s why I’m backing an UNDER bet below in my Wildcats Cougars free pick & gambling prediction for this matchup.
Wildcats vs. Cougars Gameday
Arizona travels to Pullman Saturday afternoon to face former Pac-12 rival Washington State at Gesa Field. Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM ET on CBS.
The Wildcats enter 2-1 after beating Northern Arizona 45-0, losing 28-17 at No. 15 BYU and rolling past Northern Illinois 42-17. Saturday is Arizona’s second road game and closes its nonconference schedule.
Noah Fifita arrives with another school record in his pocket.
Arizona returns to Pullman three years after winning 44-6 there, which probably wasn’t included in Washington State’s welcome-back brochure.
Washington State is 1-2 under first-year coach Kirby Moore. The Cougars lost 24-10 at Washington and 34-7 at Kansas State before returning home and pounding Duquesne 48-7.
This is only WSU’s second home game.
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Arizona leads the all-time series 28-19 and is 12-7 in Pullman. The Wildcats won the most recent meeting 44-6 in 2023, giving Fifita his first victory as Arizona’s starting quarterback.
Arizona Wildcats vs. Washington State Cougars Odds & Last 5
Arizona is a 10.5-point road favorite, with the Wildcats around -400 on the moneyline and Washington State better than +300. The total has settled at 48.5 after opening closer to 49.5 at some books.
The Wildcats bounced back nicely from their BYU loss.
Arizona fell behind Northern Illinois 10-0 before scoring 42 unanswered points. Fifita completed 31 of 34 passes for 325 yards and accounted for five touchdowns as the Wildcats turned an uncomfortable start into a comfortable night.
Washington State finally found some offense against Duquesne.
The Cougars produced 41 unanswered points after a 7-7 tie and rushed for 333 yards. Pinnick, Kirby Vorhees and Maxwell Woods all did damage on the ground as WSU collected its first win.
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Cougars Stats
Washington State’s offense badly needed last week’s breakout. The Cougars scored 17 total points in their first two games before putting 48 on Duquesne in the home opener.
The running game did most of the heavy lifting.
WSU rushed for 333 yards, with Maxwell Woods gaining 116 and Kirby Vorhees adding 109 and two touchdowns. Pinnick chipped in 76 rushing yards and another score, giving the Cougars three different ways to attack on the ground.
Washington State discovered the end zone seven times last week after finding it twice in two games. Football is funny like that.
Pinnick has thrown for 403 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions through three games. His best passing performance came against Duquesne, when he completed 17 of 22 for 196 yards and two scores.
Special teams also joined the party.
Jaylen Thomas and Tank Hawkins returned punts for fourth-quarter touchdowns against Duquesne. That’s a nice weapon to have, although Arizona probably won’t volunteer two of those.
Wildcats Stats
Arizona has scored 104 points through three games while allowing only 45. The Wildcats shut out Northern Arizona, gave up 28 at BYU and held Northern Illinois scoreless over the final three quarters last Saturday.
The defense has been particularly good against the run.
Arizona has allowed only 75.7 rushing yards per game, one of the better marks in the FBS. That’s an interesting collision with a Washington State offense coming off its first big rushing performance of the season.
Fifita remains the center of everything offensively.
The senior has thrown for 834 yards and seven touchdowns through three games. He broke Arizona’s career passing record against Northern Illinois, moving past Nick Foles and reaching 10,017 career yards.
That wasn’t his only big number Saturday.
Fifita’s 31-of-34 performance set Arizona’s single-game completion-percentage record for a quarterback with at least 30 completions. Tré Spivey added career highs with six catches and 90 yards while catching his second touchdown of the season.
Giovanni Richardson remains sidelined with a lower-body injury, leaving Arizona to continue spreading the receiving work around.
Wildcats vs. Cougars QB Matchup
Caden Pinnick has started all three games for Washington State after transferring from UC Davis. He’s thrown for 403 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions, but his mobility adds another piece to the Cougars’ offense.
Duquesne finally got the full version.
Pinnick threw for 196 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 76 yards and another score. His 19-yard touchdown run put WSU ahead for good before the Cougars took control after halftime.
Noah Fifita brings considerably more experience to the other sideline.
Arizona’s senior has thrown for more than 10,000 career yards and 80 touchdowns. He was nearly flawless against Northern Illinois, completing 31 of 34 passes while throwing four touchdowns and running for another.
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Pullman also carries a pretty good memory for Fifita.
His first victory as Arizona’s starting quarterback came here in 2023, when the Wildcats rolled 44-6. Three years later, he returns as the program’s career passing leader.
Pinnick’s legs give Washington State another way to move the chains.
Fifita gives Arizona the much more proven passing game.
Arizona Wildcats vs. Washington State Cougars bottom line: Arizona owns the clear quarterback advantage with Fifita, but Washington State’s emerging ground game gives the Cougars a way to shorten possessions and avoid turning this into the kind of passing contest the Wildcats would gladly accept.
Arizona Wildcats vs. Washington State Cougars Football Betting Trends
- Arizona is 20-4 straight up as a favorite in their last 24 games.
- In away games, the Wildcats are 3-1 against the spread in their last 4 games.
- Also, Arizona has a 14-6 record straight up after a win in their last 20 games.
- Washington State is 12-2 straight up at home in their last 14 games.
- The Cougars are 6-1 against the spread as underdogs in their last 7 games.
- Additionally, WSU has a 16-10 record against the spread after a win in their last 26 games.
Wildcats Cougars Free Pick: Under 48.5
Here is my Wildcats Cougars free pick: I’m taking Under 48.5. Arizona has allowed 45 points through three games, and Washington State’s offense finally woke up last week after scoring only 17 combined against Washington and Kansas State.
The bigger matchup for me is Noah Fifita against a Cougars team that needs to avoid giving Arizona short fields. WSU quarterback Caden Pinnick has already thrown three interceptions, and another turnover-heavy afternoon would make life considerably easier for the Wildcats.
Washington State finally found 48 points last week; Arizona’s defense should be a rather different Saturday afternoon.
The Cougars can lean on Kirby Vorhees, Maxwell Woods and Pinnick on the ground. That’s a better recipe for shortening this game than asking Pinnick to trade throws with Fifita.
Arizona should control most of the afternoon, but 48.5 still gives us some room if WSU keeps this respectable at home.
Take Under 48.5.
Today’s NCAAF Free Pick
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Washington State Cougars on X
ICYMI: STRIPE OUT GESA 🟥⬜️
Check your section. Wear your color. See you Saturday. pic.twitter.com/gSGqTV1ci0
— Washington State Football (@WSUCougarFB) September 24, 2026
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