BYU Cougars Betting Preview

The Cougars have really only had one instance of a spotty run this year. Otherwise it’s been a great run. BYU kicked off their year on a 10-2 stretch, then lost to Houston, Texas Tech, TCU and Utah over the next five outings. After wins over Colorado, Cincinnati, Baylor and UCF, the Cougars felt o Arizona and Cincinnati. BYU would finish off the regular season with wins over West Virginia, Kansas State, Kansas, Arizona, Arizona State, West Virginia, Iowa State and Utah, then beat Iowa State in the Big 12 Tournament. The Cougars would fall to Houston in the next round, then took out VCU in the First Round of the national tourney. After a Second Round  win over Wisconsin, BYU now stands at 26-9 overall this year.

In the Wisconsin matchup over the weekend, the Cougars kicked off the first half with a 47-36 halftime edge. BYU had to hang on after a 53-44 deficit from there however, resulting in a 91-89 win in the end. Leading the team during the victory was Richie Saunders with 25 points and seven rebounds. Trevin Knell added 14 points with two assists, while Egor Demin had 11 points with eight boards and eight assists. Keba Keita chipped in 10 points as well.

Alabama Crimson Tide Betting Preview

Over on the Alabama side, they similarly had one rough run going back in February and March, but outside of that they’ve been a strong team in the 2024-25 season so far. The Tide managed a 14-3 start this year with losses to only Purdue, Oregon and Ole Miss. After a nice seven-game win streak in January/February, the Tide fell to Auburn, Missouri, Tennessee and Florida over the next six games (beating Kentucky and Mississippi State otherwise). After two more wins over Auburn and Kentucky, then a loss to Florida in the conference tournament, Alabama took out Robert Morris in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Tide would improve to 27-8 overall with a Second Round win over Saint Mary’s on Sunday.

Matched up against Saint Mary’s, the Tide didn’t have too many issues. Alabama was up 42-29 by the break, then hit a 38-37 second half for the win 80-66 in the end. The Tide’s leading scorer was Chris Youngblood with 13 points, while Clifford Omoruyi doubled up on 10 points with 11 rebounds. Mark Sears (three assists), Grant Nelson (eight rebounds) and Aden Holloway (bench) each chipped in 12 points as well.

Alabama vs BYU Prediction

I’m going to stick with BYU. This should be a pretty great matchup—and a very intriguing game—regardless. The Cougars had a hot start and a slower second half against a great Wisconsin team in their last outing, but ended up with 49.2 percent shooting, 46.2 percent (12-of-26) from 3-point range and a stellar 15-of-16 (93.8 percent) from the line alongside a 41-32 rebounding edge. The only real blemish for BYU was the 11 turnovers for 12 Badgers points. The Cougars have scored a combined 171 points in their two tournament games, but they’ve also given up 160 on the other side.

As for Alabama, they were able to stay on top of a scrappy Saint Mary’s team pretty well, shooting 51.8 percent from the field with a 41-36 rebounding advantage. The Tide also had 11 turnovers, but they didn’t make a ton of difference in the final score. Alabama has 170 combined points in their first two games of the tournament, so this one should be a high-scoring, competitive game if both teams show up.

Read the rest of "Alabama vs BYU Prediction 3/27/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Before we dive into the Alabama Crimson Tide vs. BYU Cougars game let’s review the rules for Draftkings single game showdown contest.

Draftkings Single Game Showdown Contest Rules

You have $50,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team captain. The captain accumulates 1.5 times the standard fantasy points. Additionally, the captain is 1.5 times the standard cost of the flex position.

The remaining four players in your lineup will receive the standard fantasy points. Having stated that, it is highly important for you to identify the correct player for your captain position if you hope to win a large field DFS GPP (guaranteed prize pool) showdown contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the single game showdown contest, I recommend that you check out the Draftkings website for more details.

*I recommend that all readers review the starting lineups for both teams prior to setting your DFS lineup for this one game slate.

Here are my Draftkings picks for tomorrow evening’s BYU vs Alabama matchup.

Draftkings NCAA College Basketball Showdown Picks

Captain-Mark Sears, Guard, Alabama Crimson Tide $11,200

Talented guard Mark Sears has certainly been a standout performer for the Alabama Crimson Tide this season. To better understand the importance of the senior guard’s contributions to the Alabama basketball team’s achievements this season let’s review Sears game data from the 2024 NCAA season (including postseason).

In the 35 games that guard Mark Sears has played for the Alabama Crimson Tide this season, Sears is averaging 18.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 0.8 steals a game.

Looking closer at the data just presented, in the 35 games that Mark Sears has played for the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2024 NCAA season (including postseason games), Sears has compiled a 40.1% field goal percentage, a 32.9% three-point percentage and a free throw percentage of 84.9%.

More recently, in the Alabama Crimson Tide’s 90-81 victory over the Robert Morris Colonials five days ago, Alabama guard Mark Sears played exceptionally well. Let me be more specific. Sears accumulated 22 points, five rebounds and ten assists in the Crimson Tide’s win over the Colonials.

Examining the data just presented more closely, in the Alabama Crimson Tide’s win over the Robert Morris Colonials just mentioned, Mark Sears amassed a massive 43.8 Draftkings points.

What did we learn from the data just presented? Clearly, Mark Sears can post a high number of DFS points on any given night. I fully expect that trend to continue in tomorrow night’s matchup with the BYU Cougars.

In my opinion, Mark Sears is the most likely player to post the most Draftkings points in this NCAA tournament game. With that said, I am rolling with Alabama Crimson Tide guard Mark Sears at the captain position for this one game Draftkings NCAA Showdown contest.

Flex Plays

Grant Nelson, Forward, Alabama Crimson Tide $6,800

In addition to Mark Sears, senior forward Grant Nelson has certainly been a key contributor to the Alabama Crimson Tide starting lineup this season.

In the 35 games that guard Grant Nelson has played for the Crimson Tide in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Nelson is averaging a whopping 26.5 Draftkings points a game.

Additional flex plays I like to perform well in this game (Draftkings price noted): Richie Saunders, Forward (BYU Cougars) $10,600: Egor Demin, Guard (BYU Cougars) $9,800.

Read the rest of "Draftkings NCAA Basketball Picks: BYU vs. Alabama 3/27/25" at Sports Chat Place

BYU Cougars Betting Preview

The Cougars have had a pretty nice season overall, with only a couple instances of spotty runs. BYU kicked off their year on a 10-2 stretch, then lost to Houston, Texas Tech, TCU and Utah over the next five outings. After wins over Colorado, Cincinnati, Baylor and UCF, the Cougars felt o Arizona and Cincinnati. BYU would finish off the regular season with wins over West Virginia, Kansas State, Kansas, Arizona, Arizona State, West Virginia, Iowa State and Utah, then beat Iowa State in the Big 12 Tournament. The Cougars would fall to Houston in the next round but bounced back with an NCAA Tournament First Round victory over VCU on Thursday. That gives the Cougars a 25-9 overall record so far this year.

On Thursday in NCAA Tournament action versus VCU, the Cougars were ahead 39-28 going into the second half. BYU hit another 41 points from there on the way to an 80-71 victory. Leading scorer Richie Saunders put up 16 points with four rebounds and a pair of steals.

Wisconsin Badgers Betting Preview

Over on the Wisconsin side, they had a couple of choppy (but brief) stretches during the regular season but nothing terrible—especially considering the tricky schedule. The Badgers lost three straight in December versus Michigan, Marquette and Illinois, then hit a win streak that lasted from December 14 to January 18. Those victories were over Butler, Detroit Mercy, Iowa, Rutgers, Minnesota, Ohio State and USC. A 6-2 run came in the next six games with losses to UCLA and Maryland, then three losses to Oregon, Michigan State and Minnesota over the next five games. Wisconsin bagged wins over Northwestern, UCLA and Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament before a loss to Michigan last Sunday. The Badgers took out Montana on Thursday, giving the team a 27-9 overall record so far this year.

Matched up against Montana on Thursday in the First Round of the national tournament, the Badgers were up 40-32 going into the second half. Wisconsin hit the gas from there on a 45-34 run and took the win in the end 85-66. John Blackwell led the way on 19 points with five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Steven Crowl wasn’t far behind on 18 points with four rebounds and two assists, while John Tonje added 15 points with four rebounds and a pair of blocks in 31 minutes of action during the victory effort.

Why the Wisconsin Badgers will win

• Wisconsin has won 11 of its last 12 games against non-Conference opponents.
• BYU has lost five of its last six NCAA Tournament games.
• Wisconsin has won the first half in each of its last 11 games.

Why the BYU Cougars will win

• BYU has won 21 of its last 22 night games against non-Conference opponents.
• Wisconsin has lost five of its last six night games against AP-ranked opponents at a neutral venue.
• BYU has won the first half in 12 of its last 13 night games against non-Conference opponents.

Total Points Facts

• Fifteen of Wisconsin’s last 16 night games at a neutral venue have produced a total of 149 or fewer points.
• Seven of BYU’s last eight night games at a neutral venue have produced a total of 153 or fewer points.

Matchup/League Facts

• Wisconsin ranks 1st among Division 1 teams for free throw percentage this season (83.6%).
• Wisconsin ranks 5th among Division 1 teams for opponent steals per game this season (4.9).
• BYU ranks 7th among Division 1 teams for effective field goal percentage this season (57.5%).
• BYU ranks 10th among Division 1 teams for three-point field goals made per game this season (10.6).

Wisconsin vs BYU Prediction

I’m going to stay with Wisconsin. The Badgers had a great run in the Big Ten Tournament this year, but ultimately fell short against a good Michigan team. Wisconsin shot a dismal 22.1 percent from the field and 17.9 percent from outside (7-of-39) in that one but otherwise did well statistically. The Badgers made up for it with a dominant win versus an overmatched Montana team on Thursday. Wisconsin buried 55.4 percent from the field and 80 percent (16-of-20) from the line in that victory, alongside a 40-29 rebounding edge. During this current 4-1 run, the Badgers have 70 or more points in all four victories—and 77 or more in three of them.

As for BYU, they notched a pretty solid effort in their win over VCU on Thursday. The Cougars shot 50 percent from the field with a 40-31 rebounding advantage. That said, they also went a spotty 19-of-28 (67.9 percent) from the line and had 12 turnovers for 17 Rams points. BYU has scored 73 or more points in each win during this current 10-1 run, so this matchup should be a fairly high total. It’ll be a fun one to watch regardless of the outcome.

Read the rest of "Wisconsin vs BYU Prediction 3/22/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

VCU Recap

The VCU Rams come into the NCAA tournament as the conference championship out of the A-10, finishing the year with an overall record of 28-6, including a 15-3 mark in A-10 conference play. As the regular season champion in the A-10 and the conference tournament 1-seed, VCU took down St. Bonaventure, Loyola Chicago and George Mason on their way to the A-10 title.

Rams Back In Big Dance For Second Time In The Last Three Years

Max Shulga leads the Rams in scoring and assists with 15.1 PPG and 4 APG along with 5.9 RPG and 1.8 SPG while Joe Bamisile has 15.1 PPG with 5.1 RPG. Zeb Jackson has 10.4 PPG with 3.7 RPG and Phillip Russell has added 10.6 PPG with 2.2 APG to cap off the scoring in double figures for VCU. Jack Clark’s added 9.6 PPG and 6.9 RPG to lead VCU on the glass so far this season. As a team, VCU is averaging 77.1 PPG on 44.6% shooting from the field, 33.4% from three, and 74.4% from the foul line this season.

Why the VCU Rams will win

• VCU has won 12 of its last 13 games.
• BYU has lost each of its last five NCAA Tournament games.

BYU Recap

The BYU Cougars come into the NCAA Tournament on behalf of the Big 12, finishing the year with an overall record of 24-9 including a 14-6 mark in Big 12 conference play. As the 4-seed, BYU knocked off Iowa State before falling to eventual conference tournament champ Houston in the semifinals.

Cougars In Tournament For Back-To-Back Seasons

Richie Saunders leads BYU in scoring with 16 PPG along with 4.4 RPG. Egor Demin has 10.3 PPG with 3.8 RPG and a team-high 5.4 APG to lead the Cougars in assists and cap off the pair of double-digit scorers for BYU so far this season. Trevin Knell has added 9 PPG while Fousseyni Traore has 8.6 PPG with 5.3 RPG and 1.4 APG. Kanon Catchings has 7.6 PPG with 2.3 RPG, Dawson Baker has 7.6 PPG while Dallin Hall has 7.1 PPG with 4.2 APG. Keba Keita has 7.1 PPG with a team-high 7.9 RPG to lead the Cougars on the glass up to this point in the year. As a team, BYU is averaging 81 PPG on 48.2% shooting from the field, 37.4% from three, and 70.2% from the foul line this season.

Why the BYU Cougars will win

• VCU has lost each of its last 11 day games against AP-ranked opponents.
• BYU has won nine of its last 10 games.

Total Points Facts

• Each of VCU’s last seven day games against AP-ranked opponents at a neutral venue has produced a total of 144 or fewer points.
• Four of BYU’s last five games against non-AP-ranked opponents at a neutral venue have produced a total of 141 or fewer points.

BYU vs VCU Prediction

I’m on VCU here. I get why BYU could be favored here, as this team is familiar with the issues that the altitude in Denver brings. However, I still don’t trust the Cougars away from home, and the Cougars at times had issues dealing with physical defensive units. VCU creates a lot of pressure on the defensive end of the floor and this is a fairly experienced VCU team as well, I think the Rams could make BYU extremely uncomfortable here and potentially win this game outright. Give me VCU and the free bucket.

Read the rest of "BYU vs VCU Prediction 3/20/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Houston Cougars Betting Preview

The Houston Cougars are 28-4 (19-1) this year after they defeated Colorado by a score of 77-68 in their last game. Houston led 38-33 at halftime and added 39 points in the second half to secure the win. The Cougars shot 49% from the field, 44.4% on three pointers, and 67.7% on free throws in the game. Emanuel Sharp led Houston with 19 points and five rebounds, while LJ Cryer added 14 points and three rebounds in the game. 

Prior to that win, the Cougars defeated Baylor by a score of 65-61 and Kansas by a score of 65-59. Houston has won 11 games in a row and they finished first in the Big 12 standings with a 19-1 record. Houston has scored 74.2 points per game and they have allowed 58.1 points against per game, while also averaging 36.3 rebounds and 12.5 assists per game this season. LJ Cryer is averaging 15.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game, while Emanuel Sharp is averaging 11.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game this year. Houston is shooting 46% from the field, 73.8% on free throws, and 39.7% on three pointers this season. 

BYU Cougars Betting Preview

The BYU Cougars are 24-8 (14-6) this season after they defeated Iowa State by a score of 96-92 in their last game. BYU trailed 53-49 at halftime, but they scored 47 points in the second half to pickup the impressive win. The Cougars shot 51.7% from the field, 50% on three pointers, and 85.7% on free throws in the game. Richie Saunders led BYU with 23 points and five assists, while Fousseyni Traore added 15 points and two rebounds in the game. 

Prior to that win, the Cougars defeated Utah by a score of 85-74 and Iowa State by a score of 88-85. BYU has won nine games in a row and they finished tied for third in the Big 12 standings with a 14-6 record. BYU has scored 81.4 points per game and they have allowed 70.3 points against per game, while also averaging 37.5 rebounds and 17.2 assists per game this year. Richie Saunders is averaging 16.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game, while Egor Demin is averaging 10.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game this season. BYU is shooting 48.6% from the field, 69.1% on free throws, and 37.3% on three pointers this year. 

Why Houston will beat BYU

• Houston has won each of its last 16 night games.
• BYU has lost each of its last six games against Top 5 AP-ranked opponents.
• Houston has won the first half in 16 of its last 18 night games.

Total Points Facts

• Each of BYU’s last 10 Conference Tournament games have produced a total of 136+ points.
• Four of Houston’s last five games at a neutral venue have produced a total of 143+ points.

Matchup/League Facts

• Houston ranks 1st among Division 1 teams for opponent points per game this season (58.1).
• Houston ranks 1st among Division 1 teams for opponent field goals made per game this season (19.4).
• BYU ranks 7th among Division 1 teams for effective field goal percentage this season (57.5%).
• BYU ranks 10th among Division 1 teams for three-point field goals made per game this season (10.6).

David Racey is 38-21 (64%) in College Basketball over the last seven days. Click here for his premium plays for today!

Houston vs BYU Prediction

Houston rolls into this matchup with just one loss in Big 12 play this year and they have won 11 games in a row. The Cougars have played very well on both ends of the court this year, but their defense has been elite, allowing just 58.1 points against per game. BYU has won nine games in a row and they are shooting nearly 49% from the field. The Cougars are not good defensively, but they have been very strong on offense, as they have scored at least 85 points in four of their last five games. Houston did beat BYU by a score of 86-55 in their first meeting and I like them to pull away in the second half here. I don’t think BYU will be able to get enough stops down the stretch, so give me Houston to cover. 

Read the rest of "Houston vs BYU Prediction 3/14/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

BYU Cougars Betting Preview

The Cougars had a (brief) spotty run going in January but aside from that they’ve been a consistent team in the record column overall. BYU opened on a 10-2 run over their first dozen, with losses to Ole Miss and Providence. Losses to Houston, Texas Tech, TCU and Utah came in the next five games (with a lone win over Oklahoma State), then wins over Colorado, Cincinnati, Baylor and UCF. BYU would lose to Arizona and Cincinnati in the next pair, but they’ve since taken out West Virginia, Kansas State, Kansas, Arizona, Arizona State, West Virginia, Iowa State and Utah in succession. That gives BYU a 23-8 overall record in their 31 games so far this season.

In their matchup with Utah last weekend, the Cougars went into halftime with a four-point edge and closed on a 51-44 run for the win 85-74. Tops in scoring was Dawson Baker with 15 points in 16 minutes of work off the bench.

Iowa State Cyclones Betting Preview

Over on Cyclones’ side, they were looking great in mid-January. Iowa State has hit some bumpy roads in the win column since then, though. The Cyclones kicked things off on a stellar run that lasted until January 18, winning 15 of their first 16 outings. The November 25 loss to Auburn was the only defeat in that time. Iowa State hit a 2-4 run in the next six, taking out UCF and Arizona State with losses otherwise versus West Virginia, Arizona, Kansas State and Kansas. Wins over TCU, UCF, Cincinnati and Colorado came in the next four outings. Iowa State hit a 2-3 run in their next five games with wins over Arizona and Kansas State. Those losses came versus Houston, Oklahoma State and BYU otherwise. That gave the Cyclones a 23-8 overall record in 31 games of regular-season play..

In their matchup against Cincinnati on Wednesday, the Cyclones were able to keep things rolling with a dominant victory. Iowa State hit a 33-24 run in the first half, then took a 43-32 advantage from there on the way to a 76-56 win in the end. Tops in scoring was Joshua Jefferson with 19 points, eight boards, five assists and three steals. Tamin Lipsey added 16 points with three assists, two rebounds and two steals, while Milan Momcilovic had 13 points with six boards and two assists. Dishon Jackson managed a double-double with 10 points, 15 rebounds, one block and one assist in 25 minutes of action during the victory.

Why the BYU Cougars will win

• BYU has won each of its last eight games.
• Iowa State has lost three of its last four games against AP-ranked opponents.
• BYU has won the first half in each of its last seven games against the Big 12 Conference.

Why the Iowa State Cyclones will win

• Iowa State has won 11 of its last 12 games when playing with a rest disadvantage.
• BYU has lost each of its last four day games against AP-ranked opponents.
• Iowa State has won the first half in each of its last five games against the Big 12 Conference at neutral venues.

Total Points Facts

• Seven of Iowa State’s last eight day games against Conference opponents have produced a total of 141 or fewer points.
• Each of BYU’s last four games against AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 148+ points.

Matchup/League Facts

• BYU ranks 7th among Division 1 teams for effective field goal percentage this season (57.5%).
• BYU ranks 10th among Division 1 teams for three-point field goals made per game this season (10.6).
• Iowa State ranks 9th among Division 1 teams for steals per game this season (9.6).
• Iowa State ranks 10th among Division 1 teams for opponent turnovers per game this season (15.7).

BYU vs Iowa State Prediction

I’ll lean toward Iowa State I suppose. The Cyclones rolled past a middling Kansas State team pretty well over the weekend, and they were able to power out the win over Cincinnati with some gusto on Wednesday. In that one the Cyclones shot a healthy 53.7 percent from the field and 47.6 percent (10-of-21) from 3-point range while holding the Bearcats to just 32.8 percent overall on the other side. Iowa State also notched a nice 41-23 rebounding edge, but made some mistakes along the way with 17 turnovers for 14 Bearcats points.

These teams last saw each other quite recently, with BYU taking a double-overtime road victory 88-85 on March 4. Iowa State didn’t play very well in that one, shooting just 39.1 percent from the field with a 52-24 rebounding deficit. The saving grace was the 34 points off a whopping 29 BYU turnovers. The Cyclones need a much better effort across the board in this tournament rematch, but coming off a couple of convincing wins I think Iowa State is ready for it. Should be a great matchup.

Read the rest of "BYU vs Iowa State Prediction 3/13/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Utah Has Shown Some Signs of Life

Utah has shown some signs of life since firing their coach. Two games ago, against Arizona State, they were able to secure a 99-73 victory. In the last game against West Virginia, they were competitive, but they still ended up falling short. At halftime, they were down 30-29, and in the second half, they were still competitive, but they couldn’t make the shots late. Gabe Madsen had quite the game, putting up 23 points, five rebounds, and two assists. There were three different nplayers that put up at least 11 points. 

Utah has a record of 16-14 with a record of 14-16 against the spread. On the road, they are only 1-8. Utah averages 75.4 points per game, ranking their offense 135th amongst college basketball teams. They give up an average of 71.3 points per game, ranking them 159th, defensively. 

BYU is On Fire

BYU is on fire heading into this game and they have won seven games in a row. Two games ago against West Virginia, they won 77-55, and in the last game against Iowa State they won 88-85. It took double overtime against the Cyclones, but they won the game. Richie Saunders had a strong game putting up 23 points, six rebounds, and two assists. Dallin Hall also made quite the statement, putting up 22 points, five rebounds, and three assists. As a team, they shot 44.1 percent from the field, and they hit 25 of their 31 shots from the free throw line. 

BYU has a record of 22-8 and is 18-11-1 against the spread. At home, their record is 14-2. They are ranked 31st in offense with an average of 81.2 points per game. Defensively, they give up an average of 70 points per game, putting them in 119th position. Richie Suanders has been the top player, averaging 16.1 points while shooting 51.4 percent from the field and 43.9 percent from behind the three-point line. 

Matchup/League Facts

• BYU ranks 12th among Division 1 teams for assists per game this season (17.2).
• BYU ranks 15th among Division 1 teams for opponent rebounds per game this season (30.7).
• Utah ranks 23rd among Division 1 teams for rebounds per game this season (39.4).
• Utah ranks 47th among Division 1 teams for free throw attempts per game this season (22.0).

BYU vs Utah Prediction

Give me Utah here as the underdogs. They have finally started to show some signs of life, and the balanced offensive attack has been the biggest reason why. Gabe Madsen was good in the last game, but he wasn’t the star player. BYU is averaging 81.2 points per game, but their defense hasn’t been as dominant, and it will be the scoring by Utah that will keep this game close. They might not keep it within five points, but this is way too many points. Back Utah against the spead. 

Read the rest of "BYU vs Utah Prediction 3/8/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Iowa State Cyclones Betting Preview

The Iowa State Cyclones are 22-7 (12-6) this year after they defeated Arizona by a score of 84-67 in their last game. Iowa State led 43-30 at halftime and added 41 points in the second half in the win. The Cyclones shot 50% from the field, 52.4% on three-pointers, and 82.6% on free throws in the game. Milan Momcilovic led Iowa State with 17 points and three assists, while Tamin Lipsey added 15 points and eight assists in the win. 

Prior to that victory, the Cyclones lost to Oklahoma State by a score of 74-68 and Houston by a score of 68-59. Iowa State has won five of their last seven games and they are currently fourth in the Big 12 standings with a 12-6 record. Iowa State has scored 80.2 points per game and they have allowed 67.2 points per game, while also averaging 36.1 rebounds and 15.1 assists per game this season. Curtis Jones is averaging 16.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, while Keshon Gilbert is averaging 13.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game this year. Iowa State is shooting 47.8% from the field, 75% on free throws, and 35.4% on three-pointers this season. 

BYU Cougars Betting Preview

The BYU Cougars are 21-8 (12-6) this season after they defeated West Virginia by a score of 77-56 in their last game. BYU led 25-19 at halftime and added 52 points in the second half to pull away in the win. The Cougars shot 52.7% from the field, 33.3% on three-pointers, and 63.6% on free throws in the game. Fousseyni Traore led BYU with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Egor Demin added 15 points and six rebounds in the loss. 

Prior to that game, the Cougars defeated Arizona State by a score of 91-81 and Arizona by a score of 96-95. BYU has won six games in a row and they are currently tied for fourth in the Big 12 standings with Iowa State with a 12-6 record. BYU has scored 81 points per game and they have allowed 69.6 points per game, while also averaging 37.1 rebounds and 17.3 assists per game this season. Richie Saunders is averaging 15.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game, while Egor Demin is averaging 10.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game this year. BYU is shooting 48.8% from the field, 68.1% on free throws, and 37.8% on three-pointers this season. 

Why Iowa State will beat BYU

• Iowa State has won each of its last 18 night games at James H. Hilton Coliseum.
• BYU has lost eight of its last nine games against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents.
• Iowa State has won the first half in each of its last nine night games at James H. Hilton Coliseum.

Total Points Facts

• Each of BYU’s last five games against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents has produced a total of 149 or fewer points.
• Thirty-nine of Iowa State’s last 45 games against AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 150 or fewer points.

Iowa State vs BYU Prediction 

Both of these teams come into this matchup ranked in the top 25 and tied in the Big 12 standings with a 12-6 record, so this is a big battle for each side. BYU has won six games in a row and they have scored at least 80 points in four of their last five. The Cougars are shooting nearly 49% from the field this year, but their defense has been inconsistent. Iowa State has lost two of their last three games, but I trust their defense much more. The Cyclones have allowed 68 points or fewer in three of their last four games and they have been very good at home this year. This will be a good measuring stick for BYU to see where they are at heading into the postseason, but I don’t think their defense is going to hold up in this game. Take Iowa State at home here. 

Read the rest of "Iowa State vs BYU Prediction 3/4/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

West Virginia Mountaineers Betting Preview

The West Virginia Mountaineers lost to Texas Tech, beat TCU, and they play Utah and UCF next. West Virginia looks for two straight wins for the first time since December 31 – January 4.

The West Virginia Mountaineers are averaging 68.6 points on 42.8 percent shooting and allowing 64.1 points on 40.5 percent shooting. Javon Small is averaging 18.4 points and 4.2 rebounds, while Tucker DeVries is averaging 14.9 points and 4.9 rebounds. Amani Hansberry is dishing 1.5 assists and Toby Okani is grabbing 3.9 rebounds. The West Virginia Mountaineers are shooting 32.7 percent from beyond the arc and 73 percent from the free throw line. The West Virginia Mountaineers are allowing 29.2 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 30 rebounds per game.

BYU Cougars Betting Preview

The BYU Cougars beat Arizona State and Arizona, and they play Iowa State and Utah next. BYU has won five straight games and looking more and more like a Big 12 contender.

The BYU Cougars are averaging 80.8 points on 48.5 percent shooting and allowing 69.6 points on 43.1 percent shooting. Richie Saunders is averaging 15.9 points and 4.4 rebounds, while Egor Demin is averaging 10.6 points and 5.8 assists. Trevin Knell is grabbing 2.6 rebounds and Fousseyni Traore is dishing 1.5 assists. The BYU Cougars are shooting 37 percent from beyond the arc and 69.7 percent from the free throw line. The BYU Cougars are allowing 34.9 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 33.2 rebounds per game.

BYU vs West Virginia Injury Report

BYU doesn’t have a player listed on its injury report. West Virginia will be without Tucker DeVries and Jayden Stone.

BYU vs West Virginia Prediction

West Virginia still has to show it can win on the road, where it’s lost six of its last nine games. BYU beat West Virginia a few weeks ago on the road as a two-point underdog. BYU is playing some of its best ball of the season right now, with wins in eight of its last 10 games and a 7-2-1 ATS record during those contests. BYU is looking like one of the best teams in the Big 12 and is a profitable 16-11-1 ATS on the year. I’m not stepping in front of BYU for an average West Virginia squad. Give me BYU by double digits.

Read the rest of "BYU vs West Virginia Prediction 3/1/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

BYU Cougars Betting Preview

The BYU Cougars beat Kansas and Arizona, and they play West Virginia, Iowa State, and Utah next. BYU has won four straight games and two straight road games. 

The BYU Cougars are averaging 80.8 points on 48.5 percent shooting and allowing 69.6 points on 43.1 percent shooting. Richie Saunders is averaging 15.5 points and 4.3 rebounds, while Egor Demin is averaging 10.9 points and 5.6 assists. Trevin Knell is grabbing 2.6 rebounds and Fousseyni Traore is dishing 1.6 assists. The BYU Cougars are shooting 37 percent from beyond the arc and 69.7 percent from the free throw line. The BYU Cougars are allowing 34.9 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 33.2 rebounds per game.

Arizona State Sun Devils Betting Preview

The Arizona State Sun Devils lost to Houston, beat Kansas State, and they play Utah, Arizona, and Texas Tech next. Arizona State looks for two straight wins for the first time since November 29–December 3.

The Arizona State Sun Devils are averaging 73.7 points on 44 percent shooting and allowing 73.7 points on 42.2 percent shooting. BJ Freeman is averaging 13.7 points and 2.6 assists, while Alston Mason is averaging 12.7 points and 2.6 rebounds. Basheer Jihad is the third double-digit scorer and Joson Sanon is grabbing 3.1 rebounds. The Arizona State Sun Devils are shooting 35.8 percent from beyond the arc and 71.6 percent from the free throw line. The Arizona State Sun Devils are allowing 30.9 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 30.7 rebounds per game.

Arizona State vs BYU Injury Report

BYU doesn’t have a player listed on its injury report. Arizona State will be without Austin Nunez due to a leg injury.

Arizona State vs BYU Prediction

Arizona State isn’t winning games, doesn’t defend, and has covered just four of its last 10 games. BYU has scored 80 or more points in three straight games, so the Cougars should be drooling about this matchup. Also, BYU beat Arizona State by 20 points on New Year’s Eve. BYU is also 7-2-1 ATS in its last 10 games, which includes covers in four straight games. The line is reasonable, and BYU has four road wins this season. I have no choice but to side with BYU on the road.

Read the rest of "Arizona State vs BYU Prediction 2/26/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Before we dive into the BYU Cougars vs. Arizona Wildcats game let’s review the rules for Draftkings single game showdown contest.

Draftkings Single Game Showdown Contest Rules

You have $50,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team captain. The captain accumulates 1.5 times the standard fantasy points. Additionally, the captain is 1.5 times the standard cost of the flex position.

The remaining four players in your lineup will receive the standard fantasy points. Having stated that, it is highly important for you to identify the correct player for your captain position if you hope to win a large field DFS GPP (guaranteed prize pool) showdown contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the single game showdown contest, I recommend that you check out the Draftkings website for more details.

*I recommend that all readers review the starting lineups for both teams prior to setting your DFS lineup for this one game slate.

Here are my Draftkings picks for this evening’s BYU Cougars vs. Arizona Wildcats matchup.

Draftkings NCAA College Basketball Showdown Picks

Captain-Jaden Bradley, Guard, Arizona Wildcats $8,800

Junior guard Jaden Bradley has been an outstanding performer for the Arizona Wildcats this season. With that said, how has the talented young guard performed from a statistical perspective? Let’s review Bradley’s game data from the 2024 NCAA regular season to answer that question.

In the 26 games that guard Jaden Bradley has played for the Arizona Wildcats in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Bradley is averaging 11.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.1 steals a game.

Examining the data just presented more closely, in the 26 games that junior guard Jaden Bradley has played for the Arizona Wildcats this season, Bradley has compiled a 45.8% field goal percentage, a 30.4% three-point percentage and an 82.4% free throw percentage.

These two teams met earlier this season. Who prevailed? How did Jaden Bradley perform in the game? In the Arizona Wildcats convincing 85-74 win over the BYU Cougars earlier this month, Wildcats guard Jaden Bradley certainly played at a high level. More specifically, Bradley compiled 17 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals in the Arizona Wildcats victory over the Cougars.

Looking at the data just presented more closely, in the Arizona Wildcats win over the BYU Cougars just mentioned, Jaden Bradley contributed a robust 29 Draftkings points.

As I noted in the rules section above, selecting the correct player at the captain position for a Draftkings NCAA showdown lineup is absolutely vital if you hope to win a large field GPP (guaranteed prize pool) DFS contest.

In my opinion, Jaden Bradley is the most likely player to post the most Draftkings points in this NCAA regular season game. Having stated that, I am rolling with Arizona Wildcats guard Jaden Bradely at the captain position for this one game Draftkings NCAA Showdown contest.

Flex Plays

Richie Saunders, Forward, BYU Cougars $10,600

Forward Richie Saunders has certainly been an essential part of the BYU Cougars starting lineup this season. In the 25 games that forward Richie Saunders has played for the BYU Cougars this season, Saunders is averaging 26.7 Draftkings points a contest.

Additional flex plays I like to perform well in this game (Draftkings price noted): Caleb Love, Guard (Arizona Wildcats) $11,400: KJ Lewis, Guard (Arizona Wildcats) $8,800: Fousseyni Traore, Forward (BYU Cougars) $5,200.

Read the rest of "Draftkings NCAA Basketball Picks: BYU vs. Arizona 2/22/25" at Sports Chat Place

BYU Cougars Betting Preview

The BYU Cougars (18-8, 14-11-1 ATS) won seven of the previous nine games, including the last three over West Virginia, Kansas State, and Kansas. The most recent W against the Jayhawks was quite impressive as the Cougars scored 91 and allowed just 57 points to the top 25-ranked Kansas. In a remarkable performance, BYU surged ahead by as much as 38 points, securing a 34-point victory that matched the most significant scoring margin loss experienced by Kansas coach Bill Self in his 22 seasons of coaching. BYU is currently 5th in the Big 12 standings.

BYU is averaging 80.2 PPG (45th) and is allowing 68.7 PPG (76th). The Cougars are getting 37.4 RPG (96th) and are having 17.1 APG (22nd). Richie Saunders is the team’s top scorer with 15.2 PPG, along with 4.4 RPG, and a team-high 1.2 SPG. Egor Demin adds 10.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG, a team-high 5.5 APG, and 1.2 SPG, while Trevin Knell contributes 9.4 PPG, 2.6 RPG, and 1.0 SPG.

Arizona Wildcats Betting Preview

The Arizona Wildcats (18-8, 15-11 ATS) concluded 2024 (mid-December) and started the new year (early February) with an impressive 13-1 record. The lone loss in that positive span came to Texas Tech on the road, and although they got revenge with an 82-73 home victory earlier this month, the Wildcats suffered straight defeats to Kansas State and Houston. Arizona managed to bounce back with a 74-67 road W over Baylor, and now sits in second place in the Big 12, two games behind Houston.

Arizona averages 81.0 PPG (37th) and allows 69.4 PPG (106th). The Wildcats are 13th in rebounds (40.7) and 28th in assists (17.0). Caleb Love leads the team with 15.8 PPG and also averages 4.4 RPG, 3.3 APG, and 1.3 SPG. Jaden Bradley follows him with 11.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG, a team-high 3.8 APG, and a team-high 2.0 SPG, while KJ Lewis chips in with 10.4 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 3.1 APG, and 1.4 SPG.

Why Arizona will beat BYU

• Arizona has won each of its last 39 night games at McKale Memorial Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• BYU has lost five of its last six games against AP-ranked opponents.
• Arizona has won the first half in each of its last 11 games at McKale Memorial Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Total Points Facts

• Each of BYU’s last seven road night games against Conference opponents has produced a total of 150 or fewer points.
• Each of Arizona’s last five night games against non-AP-ranked opponents at McKale Memorial Center have produced a total of 157+ points.

Matchup/League Facts

• Arizona ranks 10th among Division 1 teams for rebounds per game this season (40.7).
• Arizona ranks 13th among Division 1 teams for rebound percentage this season (55.5%).
• BYU ranks 10th among Division 1 teams for three-point field goals made per game this season (10.5).
• BYU ranks 12th among Division 1 teams for effective field goal percentage this season (57.0%).

BYU vs Arizona Prediction

Arizona beat BYU 85-74 on the road earlier this month, and even though the Cougars will be looking for revenge on Saturday, I think the hosts will get another W. Although BYU covered the spread in 20 of its last 34 games, Arizona has a slightly better ATS record.

BYU is only 3-5 on the road, while Arizona is 11-2 at home. I don’t think the Wildcats can claim a top seed in the conference, but they will do everything they can to secure the No. 2 spot, and a victory in this clash will be crucial. Go with the hosts to cover.

Read the rest of "Arizona vs BYU Prediction 2/22/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Before we dive into the Kansas Jayhawks vs. BYU Cougars game let’s review the rules for Draftkings single game showdown contest.

Draftkings Single Game Showdown Contest Rules

You have $50,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team captain. The captain accumulates 1.5 times the standard fantasy points. Additionally, the captain is 1.5 times the standard cost of the flex position.

The remaining four players in your lineup will receive the standard fantasy points. Having stated that, it is highly important for you to identify the correct player for your captain position if you hope to win a large field DFS GPP (guaranteed prize pool) showdown contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the single game showdown contest, I recommend that you check out the Draftkings website for more details.

*I recommend that all readers review the starting lineups for both teams prior to setting your DFS lineup for this one game slate.

Here are my Draftkings picks for this evening’s Kansas Jayhawks vs. BYU Cougars matchup.

Captain-Hunter Dickinson, Forward, Kansas Jayhawks $12,000

Forward Hunter Dickinson has certainly been a standout performer for the Kansas Jayhawks this season. Having stated that, how has Dickinson performed from a statistical perspective? Let’s review the senior forward’s game data from the 2024 NCAA regular season to answer that question.

In the 28 games that forward Hunter Dickinson has played for the Kansas Jayhawks in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Dickinson is averaging 16.4 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.1 steals a game.

Looking closer at the data just presented, in the 28 games that Hunter Dickinson has played for the Kansas Jayhawks this season, Dickinson has amassed a 52.6% field goal percentage, a 22.9% three-point percentage and a 75.6% free throw percentage.

Last month, in the Kansas Jayhawks 91-87 win over the UCF Knights, Jayhawks forward Hunter Dickinson played exceptionally well. More specifically, Dickinson compiled 24 points, seven rebounds, two blocks and one steal in the Kansas Jayhawks victory over the UCF Knights.

Examining the data just presented more closely, in the Kansas Jayhawks win over the Knights, Hunter Dickinson tallied a robust 38.8 Draftkings points.

As I noted in the rules section above, selecting the correct player at the captain position for a Draftkings NCAA showdown lineup is absolutely vital if you hope to win a large field GPP (guaranteed prize pool) DFS contest. Keep that in mind as you construct your lineups for this one game Draftkings slate.

In my view, Kansas Jayhawks forward Hunter Dickinson is the most likely player to post the most Draftkings points in this evening’s NCAA regular season game. With that said, I am backing Hunter Dickinson at the captain position for this one game Draftkings NCAA Showdown contest.

Flex Plays

Zeke Mayo, Guard, Kansas Jayhawks $11,200

In addition to forward Hunter Dickinson, senior guard Zeke Mayo has been a key contributor to the Kansas Jayhawks overall team achievements this season.

In the 25 games that guard Zeke Mayo has played for the Kansas Jayhawks in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Mayo is averaging 15.1 points, 5.1 assists, 3.1 assists 0.8 steals a game.

In my opinion, Kansas Jayhawks forward Zeke Mayo presents the best fantasy value of any player on this one game DFS slate.

Additional flex plays I like to perform well in this game (Draftkings price noted): Egor Demin, Guard (BYU Cougars) $8,400: Dawson Baker, Guard (BYU Cougars) $3,000.

Read the rest of "Draftkings NCAA Basketball Picks: Kansas vs. BYU 2/18/25" at Sports Chat Place

Kansas Jayhawks Betting Preview

Kansas had a great run going into the middle of January, but they’ve been on quite a choppy run amid some tough matchups since then. The Jayhawks opened on a 12-3 run, falling to only Creighton, Missouri, and West Virginia in that time. The wins otherwise came versus Howard, North Carolina, Michigan State, Oakland, UNC Wilmington, Duke, Furman, NC State, Brown, UCF, Arizona State, and Cincinnati. Since then Kansas has gone just 5-5 over their last 10 outings. The losses were versus Iowa State, Houston, Baylor, Kansas State, and Utah. Otherwise, it was wins over Kansas State, TCU, UCF, Iowa State, and Colorado in that time. That gives the Jayhawks a 17-8 overall record through the first 25 games of the season.

In the Utah game on Saturday, the Jayhawks kicked off the first half with a two-point deficit. Kansas didn’t end up getting any closer than that, falling further behind on a 35-30 run and taking the eventual loss 74-67. Zeke Mayo led the team in the losing effort with his 15 points, six rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Dajuan Harris added 14 points with four rebounds and four assists, while Hunter Dickinson had 12 points with seven rebounds, four blocks, and three assists. Leading the team off the bench was Flory Bidunga with eight points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal in 20 minutes on the floor.

BYU Cougars Betting Preview

Over on the BYU side, they had a pretty rough run going last month but overall they’ve been pretty solid in the record column. The Cougars kicked things off on a 10-2 run with losses to Ole Miss and Providence amid wins otherwise versus Central Arkansas, UC Riverside, Queens U, Idaho, MS Valley State, NC State, Fresno State, Wyoming, Florida A&M, and Arizona State. A 1-4 run came next with a lone win over Oklahoma State amid losses to Houston, Texas Tech, TCU, and Utah. Since then it’s been a 6-2 stretch for BYU. The losses in that time were to Arizona and Cincinnati in consecutive games. Aside from that pair it was wins over Colorado, Cincinnati, Baylor, UCF, West Virginia, and Kansas State in that time. Overall through 25 games so far, BYU is currently 17-8 in the record books as well.

Matched up against Kansas State on Saturday, the Cougars were up 40-22 at the break. BYU kept the pace pretty well from there on a 43-40 deficit and took the win at the end 80-65. Richie Saunders led the way with his 17 points, 14 rebounds, two steals, and two assists for a double-double. Dallin Hal led the bench players with 16 points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals, while Fousseyni Traore had 11 points and four rebounds off the bench. Keba Keita chipped in nine points with 11 rebounds and five blocs as well.

Why the BYU Cougars will win

• The home team has won each of Kansas’ last six games.
• Kansas has lost four of its last five road games.
• BYU has won the first half in 14 of its last 15 games at Marriott Center.

Why the Kansas Jayhawks will win

• BYU has lost each of its last five games against AP-ranked opponents.
• Kansas has won each of its last four games following a road loss.
• Kansas has won the first half in eight of its last nine Tuesday night games against the Big 12 Conference.

Total Points Facts

• Seven of Kansas’ last eight road night games against Conference opponents have produced a total of 145 or fewer points.
• Four of BYU’s last five night games against AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 149 or fewer points.

BYU vs Kansas Prediction

I’m going to take a stab at BYU here. The Cougars are coming off a nice win over a potentially dangerous Kansas State team, shooting 49.1 percent from the field with a 41-31 rebounding edge and 18 team assists. BYU did have 12 turnovers so it wasn’t a perfect game, but an important victory all the same. The Cougars have now scored a combined 153 points in consecutive wins, holding opponents below 70 points in both games as well.

As for Kansas, they held Utah to just 36.5 percent shooting in their latest game but still managed to lose, thanks mostly to 12 turnovers which turned into 22 Utes points. The Jayhawks have been on a wildly inconsistent run lately, and this will be another tricky road matchup. I’m not confident enough in Kansas these days to take them on a cover/win.

Read the rest of "BYU vs Kansas Prediction 2/18/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

BYU Cougars Betting Preview

The BYU Cougars are 16-8 (7-6) this year after they defeated West Virginia by a score of 73-69 in their last game. BYU trailed 34-32 at halftime, but they scored 41 points in the second half in the win. The Cougars shot 45.5% from the field, 35.7% on three pointers, and 81.3% on free throws in the game. Egor Demin led BYU with 16 points and three rebounds, while Kanon Catchings added 11 points and four rebounds in the game. 

Prior to that victory, the Cougars lost to Cincinnati by a score of 84-66 and Arizona by a score of 85-74. BYU has won five of their last seven games and they are currently tied for sixth in the Big 12 standings with a 7-6 record. BYU has scored 79.8 points per game and they have allowed 69.2 points against per game, while also averaging 37.2 rebounds and 16.8 assists per game this season. Richie Saunders is averaging 14.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game, while Egor Demin is averaging 11.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game this season. BYU is shooting 48% from the field, 69.1% on free throws, and 36.9% on three pointers this season. 

Kansas State Wildcats Betting Preview

The Kansas State Wildcats are 13-11 (7-6) this season after they defeated Arizona by a score of 73-70 in their last game. Kansas State led 35-29 at halftime and was able to get the win, despite allowing 41 points in the second half. The Wildcats shot 45.2% from the field, 5.3% on three pointers, and 61.5% on free throws in the game. Dug McDaniel led Kansas State with 24 points and four rebounds, while David N’Guessan added 16 points and seven rebounds in the win. 

Prior to that game, the Wildcats defeated Kansas by a score of 81-73 and Arizona State by a score of 71-70. Kansas State has won six games in a row and they are currently tied for sixth in the Big 12 standings with a 7-6 record. Kansas State has scored 73.8 points per game and they have allowed 70.1 points against per game, while also averaging 33.8 rebounds and 16.3 assists per game this season. David N’Guessan is averaging 13.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game, while Brendan Hausen is averaging 11.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game this year. Kansas State is shooting 45.7% from the field, 68.6% on free throws, and 34.6% on three pointers this season. 

Why Kansas State will beat BYU

• Kansas State has won each of its last six games.
• Kansas State has won the first half in each of its last seven games against the Big 12 Conference.

BYU vs Kansas State Prediction 

Kansas State comes into this matchup with just a 7-6 conference record, but they have been one of the best stories in the country over the last few weeks. The Wildcats have wins over Arizona, Kansas, Iowa State and West Virginia in their last six games, all of whom were ranked at the time. Kansas State is shooting 45.7% from the field and they have scored 80+ points in three of their last five games. BYU has lost two of their last three games and they have allowed 75+ points in four of their last five games. The Cougars are shooting 48% from the field this year and they should have a decent rebounding advantage here. I know Kansas State can’t continue this strong play forever, but I have to take the points with how well they are playing right now. 

Read the rest of "BYU vs Kansas State Prediction 2/15/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

BYU Has Lost Two Games in a Row

BYU has lost two games in a row, and they are suddenly struggling. Two games ago against Arizona, BYU scored 74 points, but the defense gave up 85 points. In the last game against Cincinnati, BYU scored only 66 points while the defense gave up 84 points. BYU shot 47.1 percent from the field and 34.5 percent from deep, but they allowed Cincinnati to shoot 58.6 percent from the field. Richie Saunders put up 15 points, two assists, and one rebound. In this game, the defense needs to be better. 

BYU currently sits with a 15-8 record overall, and they have gone 11-11-1 against the spread. BYU is averaging 80 points, while their defense is giving up 69.2 points per game. The offense is ranked 51st in the league while the defense is ranked 97th. They are shooting 48.11 percent from the field which is 33rd in the league. They are shooting 36.91 percent from deep, and they are shooting 36.91 percent which is 53rd in the league. In this game, hitting a few three-pointers more than normal would really improve their chances. Richie Saunders is averaging 15.1 points while shooting 50.6 percent from the field while shooting 44 percent from behind the three-point line. 

West Virginia Looks for Second Straight Win

West Virginia has been a little inconsistent the last couple of weeks but they are coming off a victory in the last game. West Virginia scored 72 points while the defense gave up 61 points, and that was enough for the 11-point victory over the Utah Utes. The Mountaineers shot 48.1 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from behind the three-point line. Two games ago against TCU, the offense scored only 60 points while the defense gave up 65 points per game. 

West Virginia currently sits with a 15-8 record overall and they have gone 13-10 against the spread. At home this season, they sit with a 10-3 record overall. West Virginia is averaging 69.4 points while their defense is giving up 63.6 points per game. The offense is ranked 296th in the league while the defense is ranked 16th. The defense is going to need to be lights out here. Guard Javon Small is averaging 18.9 points while shooting 42.4 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from behind the three-point line. 

West Virginia vs BYU Prediction

BYU away from home this season has gone 2-5 straight up and I just don’t trust them with the way they have played heading into this game. BYU gave up 84 points two games ago and I don’t trust them here. West Virginia is only averaging 69.4 points per game but against this BYU defense, they are going to go above that here. Javon Smith is going to have a big game here, and West Virginia is going to end up covering the spread here. 

Read the rest of "West Virginia vs BYU Prediction 2/11/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Cincinnati Bearcats Betting Preview

The Cincinnati Bearcats are 13-9 (3-8) this season after they defeated UCF by a score of 93-83 in their last game. Cincinnati led 40-36 at halftime and added 53 points in the second half in the win. The Bearcats shot 58.5% from the field, 31.3% on three pointers, and 63.2% on free throws in the game. Day Day Thomas led Cincinnati with 20 points and six assists, while Dillon Mitchell added 19 points and six rebounds in the win. 

Prior to that game, the Bearcats lost to West Virginia by a score of 63-50 and Utah by a score of 69-66. Cincinnati has lost four of their last five games and they are currently near the bottom of the Big 12 standings with a 3-8 record. Cincinnati has scored 71.0 points per game and they have allowed 63.9 points against per game, while also averaging 35.3 rebounds and 14.2 assists per game this season. Simas Lukosius is averaging 11.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, while Dillon Mitchell is averaging 10.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game this year. Cincinnati is shooting 44.9% from the field, 65.5% on free throws, and 31.7% on three pointers this season. 

BYU Cougars Betting Preview

The BYU Cougars are 15-7 (6-5) this year after they lost to Arizona by a score of 85-74 in their last game. BYU was tied at 41 at halftime, but they allowed 44 points in the second half for the loss. The Cougars shot 41.8% from the field, 29.4% on three pointers, and 57.1% on free throws in the game. Egor Demin led BYU with 16 points and three rebounds, while Richie Saunders added 11 points and six rebounds in the game. 

Prior to that loss, the Cougars defeated UCF by a score of 81-75 and Baylor by a score of 93-89. BYU has won four of their last five games and they are currently tied for sixth in the Big 12 standings with a 6-5 record. BYU has scored 80.7 points per game and they have allowed 68.5 points against per game, while also averaging 38.2 rebounds and 17.1 assists per game this season. Richie Saunders is averaging 15.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, while Egor Demin is averaging 11.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game this year. BYU is shooting 48.1% from the field, 68.5% on free throws, and 37% on three pointers this season. 

Why BYU will beat Cincinnati

• BYU has won each of its last four games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Cincinnati has lost four of its last five games.
• BYU has won the first half in each of its last nine night games against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Matchup/League Facts

• Cincinnati ranks 357th among Division 1 teams for free throws made per game this season (9.8).
• Cincinnati ranks 16th among Division 1 teams for opponent three-point field goals made per game this season (5.9).
• BYU ranks T7th among Division 1 teams for three-point field goals made per game this season (10.6).
• BYU ranks 13th among Division 1 teams for effective field goal percentage this season (57.0%).

Cincinnati vs BYU Prediction 

Cincinnati comes into this contest after snapping their losing streak with a win over UCF last time out and they will be at home for this game. The Bearcats are shooting 44.9% from the field this year, but they have scored 66 points or fewer in three of their last four games. BYU had their winning streak snapped with a home loss to Arizona in their last game and they are just 2-3 in their last five road games. The Cougars are shooting 48.1% from the field and they are scoring over 80 points per game this year. These two teams like to play at two different paces, so it will be interesting to see which team can control the tempo. I think this game could go either way, but I really don’t like what I have seen from Cincinnati’s offense, so I will take the Cougars on the road here. 

Read the rest of "Cincinnati vs BYU Prediction 2/8/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Arizona Wildcats Betting Preview

Arizona got off to a pretty rough start this season. To their credit, however, the Wildcats have looked great since mid-December. Arizona opened on a 4-5 run with losses to Wisconsin, Duke, Oklahoma, West Virginia, and UCLA among wins over Canisius, Old Dominion, Davidson, and Southern Utah. A win streak over Samford, Central Michigan, TCU, Cincinnati, West Virginia, UCF, and Baylor came next, then a loss to Texas Tech. Since then it’s been four straight wins over Oklahoma State, Colorado, Iowa State, and Arizona State, giving the Wildcats a 15-6 overall record through the first 21 games of the 2024-25 season.

In their Arizona State matchup on Saturday, the Wildcats came out of halftime looking up at a slim 35-34 advantage on the scoreboard. Arizona got it going from there on a 46-38 run and took the eventual win 81-72 in the end. Leading the team in scoring was Caleb Love with 27 points, six boards, and seven assists. Jaden Bradley added 14 points with four rebounds and two assists, while Henri Veesaar came off the bench for 11 points and six boards in 20 minutes. Carter Bryant had 10 rebounds and eight points off the bench as well.

BYU Cougars Betting Preview

Over on the BYU side, they had a spotty run going in early January, but other than that the Cougars have been a very consistent team all season long. BYU opened on a 10-2 run with losses to Ole Miss and Providence among wins versus Central Arkansas, UC Riverside, Queens U, Idaho, MS Valley State, NC State, Fresno State, Wyoming, Florida A&M, and Arizona State. A 1-4 stretch came next with losses to Houston, Texas Tech, TCU, and Utah (and a win over Oklahoma State). Since then it’s been four straight wins over Colorado, Cincinnati, Baylor, and UCF, giving the Cougars a 15-6 overall record through 21 games this season.

Matched up against UCF in their weekend outing, the Cougars held a 40-38 deficit by the break. BYU woke up in the second half on a 43-35 run and took the eventual victory 81-75 in the end. Tops in scoring was Richie Saunders with 22 points, three rebounds, and two steals. Mawot Mag added 19 points with five assists and three rebounds, while Trevin Knell chipped in with 15 points and four rebounds alongside a pair of steals in 20 minutes on the floor.

Why the BYU Cougars will win

• BYU has won 17 of its last 18 games at Marriott Center.
• BYU has won the first half in each of its last 13 games at Marriott Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Why the Arizona Wildcats will win

• Arizona has won each of its last eight night games.
• Arizona has won the first half in each of its last eight night games.

BYU vs Arizona Prediction

I’ll go with Arizona in this one. You could obviously make a case either way, though. We’ll have a pretty fun matchup here if both teams play to their capabilities. The Wildcats do need a bit of a bounce-back effort after a spotty game against rival Arizona State, though. Arizona shot just 37.1 percent from the field in that one with 13 turnovers for 11 Sun Devils points. The Wildcats did hold the opposition to just 36.8 percent from the field, however, and mustered a nice 52-38 rebounding edge (18-11 offensive). During this current four-game win streak, the Wildcats have scored 78 or more points in every game—but they’ve given up 72 or more in three of those.

As for BYU, they started a bit slowly in their last game versus UCF but also pulled off a road victory in the end. The Cougars shot a nice 48.3 percent in that one with a 40-34 rebounding edge, however also coughed up 17 turnovers for 18 Knights points. BYU is on a four-game win streak as well with 80 or more scored in each of those outings. I like a high-scoring, entertaining matchup here. It should be one of the highlights of the Tuesday college basketball slate.

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Baylor Recap

The Baylor Bears come into this game looking to build on a 76-61 win over Utah last time out to improve to 13-6 on the year. After this game, Baylor will take on the Kansas Jayhawks at home.

Bears Win Back-To-Back Games

Norchad Omier leads Baylor in scoring and rebounding, averaging a double-double per game with 15.4 PPG and 10.2 RPG while Robert Wright III has 11.9 PPG with a team-high 4.7 APG to lead Baylor in the assist department up to this point in the season. Jeremy Roach has chipped in 11.9 PPG with 3.5 APG while VJ Edgecombe has 14.2 PPG with 5.4 RPG along with 3.2 APG and 2.4 SPG. Jayden Nunn added 10 PPG to cap off the group of double-digit scorers for Baylor up to this point in the year. As a team, Baylor is averaging 79.9 PPG on 46% shooting from the field, 36.5% from behind the arc, and 72.3% from the foul line so far this season.

Why the Baylor Bears will win

• Baylor has won 30 of its last 34 night games against non-AP-ranked opponents.

BYU Recap

The BYU Cougars come into this game looking to add on to an 80-52 win over Cincinnati last time out to improve to 13-6 on the year as well. After this game, BYU will head on the road to take on UCF.

Cougars Win Back-To-Back Games

Richie Saunders leads BYU in scoring with 14.9 PPG along with 4.1 RPG while Egor Demin has 10.9 PPG with 4.3 RPG and a team-high 5.9 APG to lead the Cougars in assists. Trevin Knell has added 10 PPG to cap off the trio of double-digit scorers for BYU so far this season while Fousseyni Traore has 9.4 PPG with 6.1 RPG and 1.9 APG. Kanon Catchings has 8.7 PPG with 2.7 RPG, Dawson Baker has 8.5 PPG while Dallin Hall has 6.1 PPG with 3.8 APG. Keba Keita has 6.4 PPG with a team-high 8.4 RPG to lead the Cougars on the glass up to this point in the year. As a team, BYU is averaging 80.4 PPG on 48.2% shooting from the field, 37.1% from three, and 68.6% from the foul line this season.

Why the BYU Cougars will win

• BYU has won 16 of its last 17 games at Marriott Center.

Total Points Facts

• Five of Baylor’s last six night games against Conference opponents have produced a total of 138 or fewer points.
• Nine of BYU’s last 10 Tuesday night games against the Big 12 Conference have produced a total of 143+ points.

BYU vs Baylor Prediction

I’m on BYU here. Baylor for me is a bit of a paper 13-6, as they haven’t really been tested and in fairness, I don’t think this team is anything special. The Cougars haven’t had the strongest run in conference play either, but they do play better at home, and they shoot and make a ton of threes, which doesn’t bode well for a Baylor team that struggles to defend the perimeter at the best of times. I think that this is a BYU smash spot here so I’ll roll with the Cougars at home in this one.

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BYU Looks for Second Straight Win

BYU faced off against Colorado in the last game, and they were impressive. BYU’s offense scored 83 points while the defense gave up 67 points and that led to the defeat. In the second half, BYU scored 45 points while the defense gave p 31 points and that led to the win. BYU shot 58.5 percent from the field and 45.8 percent from behind the three-point line. Richie Saunders had a strong game putting 25 poins, five rebounds, and one assist. 

BYU comes into this game with a 12-6 record overall and they have gone 9-9 against the spread. The over has hit in 9 of the 18 games so far this season. BYU is averaging 80.4 points while their defense is giving up 67.4 points per game. The offense is ranked 58th in the league while the defense is ranked 58th in the league. Forward Richie Saunders is averaging 14.5 points while shooting 52 percent from the field. 

Why BYU Will Beat Cincinnati 

BYU has won 14 of its last 15 games at Marriott Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Cincinnati has lost four of its last five night games against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Cincinnati has lost the first half in three of its last four road games against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Cincinnati Looks to Bounce Back

Cincinnati faced off against Texas Tech in the last game and they didn’t play well enough. The Beacats scored 71 points while the defense gave up 81 points and that led to the defeat. The Beacats are shooting 51.9 percent from the field and 21.4 percent from behind the three point lineup. Two games ago against Arizona State, Cincinnati gave up only 60 points and they ended up winning by seven points. 

The Bearcats sit with a 12-6 record overall and they have gone 7-11 against the spread. The over has hit in only 3 of the 18 games so far this season. Cincinnati is averaging 72.3 points while their defense is giving up 61.3 points per game. The offense is ranked 247th in the league and the defense is ranked 10th. Simas Lukosius is the top player, averaging 12.2 points while shooting 42.5 percent from the field. 

BYU vs Cincinnati Prediction

BYU is going to have no issue geting the job done in this game. BYU is averaging 80.4 points per game and they are going to have no issue running up the score here. Cincinnati is averaging 72.3 points per game and they aren’t going to score enough here. BYU is going to go over their season average, and it is going to be BYU that is going to get the job done. Back BYU against the spread.

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