As Arizona attempts to catch Houston in its race for the Big 12 regular season title, the Wildcats welcome an explosive BYU program to Tucson for a rematch of a game Tommy Lloyd’s team won by 11 earlier this month.
With two of the most offensively gifted guards in the conference taking the court for each side, I’m expecting offensive fireworks to light up McKale Memorial Center in my BYU vs. Arizona predictions and college basketball picks for Saturday, February 22.
BYU vs Arizona prediction
My best bet
Over 153 (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
The last time these two teams played a few weeks ago, they combined for 159 points, and I’m expecting a similar output this time around. My score prediction for this matchup is an 82-76 win for Arizona, but I’m not overly confident in either team covering the seven-point spread.
However, I do expect both programs to bring it on offense and for them to once again hit the Over. The BYU Cougars are coming off a shocking blowout of Kansas after Brigham Young dropped 91 on the Jayhawks in a 34-point win.
It perfectly highlighted just how lethal Kevin Young’s offense can be when it’s clicking, and surely got the folks of Provo excited for what No. 1 recruit AJ Dybantsa will look like on this team next season. The Cougars are 13th in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency and putting up the fourth-most PPG in Big 12 play (76.2).
This offense has been wildly efficient behind the shooting of Richie Saunders, too. BYU leads conference play in field goal percentage (47.8%) and sits first in 3-pointers made per game (10.0). They have enough talent between Saunders, Trevin Knell, and Egor Demin to pressure an Arizona defense that’s ninth in the Big 12 in points allowed per game (70.7) and 12th in 2-pointers allowed (18.3).
Luckily for Caleb Love and the Wildcats’ offense, BYU’s defense is among the worst in the conference. While it did slow down the discombobulated Jayhawks, the Cougars are 11th in both points allowed (71.3) and field goal percentage allowed (51.6%), and give up the most 3-pointers per game (8.7) in the Big 12.
Meanwhile, Love has the Arizona Wildcats putting up the second most points per game in the conference (77.7), hitting the most 2-pointers (21.1), and sitting third in field goal percentage (46.2%). This offense is 23rd in the country in adjusted efficiency and has reliable scorers all around Love in Jaden Bradley, KJ Lewis, and Henri Veesaar.
These are two teams led by high-scoring guards and playing with an offense-first approach, so expect them to hit the Over again.
BYU vs Arizona same-game parlay (SGP)
Over 153.3
Caleb Love 2+ made three-pointers
Richie Saunders Over 16.5 points
While Love isn’t having the All-American season many expected, he’s still putting up 16.2 PPG in Big 12 play and is the highest usage player in the conference - he leads the Big 12 in field goal attempts per game (14.5) and sits second in 3-point attempts (7.8). That usage should lead to plenty of opportunities for him to hit at least two threes.
BYU is allowing the most 3-pointers per game in the conference (8.7) and Love hit four against the Cougars the last time they played. In that same game, Saunders had just 11 points, but he’s taken his game up a level since then.
Saunders is coming off a 22-point game against Kansas and has gone for at least 17 in back-to-back outings. The junior should have his 11th game of Over 16.5 points tonight.
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BYU vs Arizona odds
BYU vs Arizona live odds
BYU vs Arizona opening odds
- Spread: BYU +7 (-110) | Arizona -7 (-110)
- Moneyline: BYU +250 | Arizona -310
- Over/Under: Over 153.5 (-110) | Under 153.5 (-110)
Odds courtesy of bet365
BYU vs Arizona betting trend to know
BYU has hit the game total Over in 18 of its last 34 games (+0.50 Units / 1% ROI). Find more college basketball betting trends for BYU vs. Arizona. Find more college basketball betting trends for BYU vs. Arizona.
How to watch BYU vs Arizona
| Location | McKale Memorial Center, Tucson, AZ |
| Date | Saturday, 2-22-2025 |
| Tip-off | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN |
BYU vs Arizona key injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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