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The Eastern Washington Eagles take on the UC Davis Aggies at Health Stadium in Davis, CA. Kickoff is set for 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
UC Davis is favored by 9.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -350. The total is set at 60.5 points.
Here's my Eastern Washington vs UC Davis predictionand college football pick for Saturday, October 3, 2026.
Eastern Washington vs UC Davis Pick: Over 60.5
My Eastern Washington vs UC Davis best betis on the over. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page and be sure to download the Action Network app for more picks and analysis.
Eastern Washington vs UC Davis point spread: Eastern Washington +9.5 (-115), UC Davis -9.5 (-111)
Eastern Washington vs UC Davis over/under: 60.5 (-113o / -113u)
Eastern Washington vs UC Davis moneyline: Eastern Washington -350, UC Davis +255
Eastern Washington has trudged through a 1-4 start and is 0-2 in the Big Sky after dropping last week's game against Cal Poly. The Eagles' program has fallen on hard times and is no where near the team that competed in the FCS playoffs for years while regularly putting a scare into FBS programs.
The schedule has been difficult, but the defense hasn't registered enough stops, and offensive execution has faltered in the second half in each conference loss.
The FCS playoffs are now out of the question for Eastern Washington, and this team is going to have to do some soul searching to find motivation the rest of the way.
The offense is led by quarterback Nate Bell , who's completed 63% of his passes for 1,184 yards and eight touchdowns while also leading the team in rushing with 212 yards. Bell has elusiveness, can make plays outside the pocket and has a nose for the goal line, leading the team with six rushing scores.
Malik Dotson and Kevin Allen III are the two featured running backs on this offense but have been unable to get much going on the ground. The offensive line play has been poor and Eastern Washington has been throwing the ball from behind much of the season.
Five Eagles have caught at least 10 passes this season, led by Wesley Garrett with 256 yards receiving. This offense has some talent, but the execution has been underwhelming in late-game situations — a primary driver for the 0-2 conference start.
The defense has struggled this year for Eastern Washington. The Eagles are allowing 36 points per game and 6.8 yards per play, as the secondary has faltered in pass coverage and pass rush.
Opponents have moved the ball between the 20s against Eastern Washington all season and third-down defense has been poor, but Eastern has played better in the red zone.
This unit will have to be at its best on Saturday night on the road at UC Davis.
UC Davis has struggled this year following 2025's nine-win season, which included a playoff victory.
The offense isn't nearly as potent after losing plenty of star power to graduation and the transfer portal this offseason.
Those concerns were revealed immediately in the season opener. UC Davis trailed Portland State, the worst team in the Big Sky, 21-0 at halftime before mounting a furious comeback.
A pair of wins over FCS non-scholarship Pioneer Football League participants Stetson and San Diego University have this team at 3-2, but the losses have been ugly.
The defense surrendered 607 yards and 62 points last week against Montana, which averaged eight yards per play.
I'm sure this team wants to take the field and get the Montana loss out of its minds, and with the remaining schedule of opponents, UC Davis could be a team that gets on a roll the rest of the way.
If so, that will start on homecoming against Eastern Washington.
The offense under Tim Plough has been balanced and the unit features various formations with unique pre-snap looks, making it tough for opponents to prepare for the Aggies.
Quarterback Treynor Cleeland has completed 59% of his passes this season for 1,189 yards with 10 passing touchdowns. Receiver Samuel Gbatu Jr. leads the team with 571 receiving yards on 38 catches.
While a secondary receiver has yet to emerge, five players have at least nine catches, giving the passing game some additional options.
The ground game has seen Jordan Fisher and Matteo Perez split carries this season, with Fisher rushing for 315 yards and five touchdowns. Perez has been the change-of-pace back, averaging 8.8 yards per carry.
There's some zip in the ground attack, but UC Davis should seek to move the ball through the air against Eastern Washington.
The defense has been poor, just like last season when UC Davis had to win several games in shootout fashion. This season, the stop-unit is allowing 33.2 points and 428 yards per game, and the metrics show a defense unable to stop the pass.
UC Davis is giving up a 65% completion rate in the secondary and have allowed 11 passing touchdowns this year — even factoring in the two games played against Pioneer Football League teams.
The defensive front provides very little pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and havoc numbers are down as the Aggies have registered just five sacks this season.
Conference opponents are going to have success against UC Davis, so the shootouts are likely to continue in the Big Sky.
This game opened with UC Davis listed as 9.5-point favorites and a total set at 60.5. I like the over in this matchup.
Both Eastern Washington and UC Davis have inefficient defenses that are going to struggle to register stops in this game. Eastern Washington is giving up 6.8 yards per play and has been often inadequate defending the pass.
Cleeland will have time to throw the ball and let the pass routes develop without the pressure of an effective pass rush. UC Davis should also register some explosive plays through the air.
Eastern Washington is likely to be trailing in this contest and will resort to throwing the ball a lot. UC Davis has a weak secondary, and Bell has thrown the ball well this season against stiffer competition.
Eastern will have plenty of opportunities in the red zone with chances to score touchdowns as UC Davis has defended in the red zone 16 times over the last three weeks.
These teams are both going to light it up while the defenses are at a significant disadvantage. Neither team has an effective pass rush, and we shouldn't expect to see drive-stalling negative plays.
I expect a high level of offensive efficiency from both quarterbacks.
This should be a close, back-and-forth track meet, and with the total set at 60.5, I'm looking to the high side in this matchup.
Pick: Over 60.5
