BYU Cougars vs Baylor Bears Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Baylor vs BYU NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Provo.

Baylor vs BYU Prediction

The Bears and Cougars are set to face off at 9:00 ET on ESPN2. The Cougars will host the game at Marriott Center in Provo, UT. The over/under for this game is set at 143.5 points, and BYU is favored by -3.5 vs. Baylor in a Big 12 conference matchup.

Baylor vs. BYU Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Baylor Bears at BYU Cougars
Where: Provo at Marriott Center
Date: Tuesday, January 28th
Betting Odds BYU -3.5, BAYL +150 | BYU -186 O/U 143.5

Bears Preview: Are Baylor Ready for a Road Win?

Baylor Bears Recent Game/Games

Baylor improved to 12-6 on the season with a 76-61 road win over Utah on Saturday. The Bears entered the game as 2-point favorites and covered the spread. The total points for the game were 137, falling short of the 144.5 O/U line.

Baylor led 38-31 at halftime and matched that output in the 2nd half, while holding Utah to 30 points after the break.

Bears Offense Breakdown

Baylor put up 76 points in their last game, shooting 43.9% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 52.6%. They hit 37.5% from beyond the arc, connecting on 9 of 24 attempts, and were strong at the free-throw line, making 17 of 20 for 85%.

On the boards, Baylor grabbed 15 offensive rebounds and dished out 12 assists. Norchad Omier led the way with 22 points and 12 rebounds, shooting 66.7% from the field and from three. VJ Edgecombe added 21 points, hitting 4 of 6 from deep, while Ezra Ausar contributed 19 points and 7 rebounds.

Bears Team Defense

Baylor's defense held their opponent to 61 points, with a field goal percentage of 40% (22/55). They allowed 53% shooting from two-point range, as the other team went 17/32.

From beyond the arc, Baylor limited their opponent to 5/23 shooting, or 21%. They also sent them to the free-throw line 20 times, where they made 12, shooting 60%. Baylor gave up 14 offensive rebounds.

Cougars Preview: Does BYU Have What it Takes to Win as Home Favorites?

BYU improved to 13-6 on the season with a dominant 80-52 win over Cincinnati on Saturday. The Cougars, who were -6.5 favorites, covered the spread with ease. The game’s total points came in at 132, just under the O/U line of 137.5.

After leading 28-23 at halftime, BYU exploded for 52 points in the 2nd half while holding Cincinnati to 29 points. The Cougars’ strong defensive effort and offensive surge after the break were key to their victory.

Cougars Offense Breakdown

BYU's offense was on fire in their last game, shooting 57.1% from the field and knocking down 15 threes at a 62.5% clip. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 73.5%, and they also hit 81.8% of their free throws.

Richie Saunders led the way with 21 points, hitting 5 of 7 from deep, while Egor Demin added 15 points and 7 assists. The Cougars finished with 18 assists as a team.

Cougars Team Defense

BYU's defense struggled in their last game, giving up 52 points while allowing the opposing team to shoot 57% from the field. They also gave up 15 threes, with the other team shooting 62% from beyond the arc.

From the free-throw line, BYU's opponent went 9/11, hitting 81% of their attempts. The Cougars allowed 7 offensive rebounds in the game.

Bears vs Cougars Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Through their last five road contests, the Bears offense has averaged 69 points per game while allowing an average of 71. Baylor posted an overall record of 2-3 while going 1-4 ATS.
Across their five previous home games, BYU has an ATS mark of 1-4. Their straight up record in these matchups was 1-4 while averaging 68 points per game.
Spanning across their last three games as the betting underdog, the Bears have gone 0-3 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 0-3.
Looking back on the team's last ten games as the favorite, the Cougars have a straight up record of 7-3. Their record vs the spread in these games was 7-3.