#1 Arizona vs. #13 BYU Predictions, Picks & Odds: NCAAB on ESPN, 1/26

Monday night brings us a marquee Big 12 matchup featuring two of the best teams in college basketball as #13 BYU hosts #1 Arizona. This game could carry a ton of weight for future NCAA Tournament seeding, let alone bragging rights and standing in the conference. Check out our #1 Arizona vs. #13 BYU predictions ahead of tonight’s clash. 

Arizona remains undefeated on the season with several convincing victories along the way. BYU is 17-2 on the year, as star freshman AJ Dybantsa leads the charge. Can the Cougars pull off the home upset, or will the Wildcats stay perfect? Don’t miss our #1 Arizona vs. #13 BYU picks, which include betting odds, a full injury report, how to watch, and more before you lock in your own bets. 

#1 Arizona vs. #13 BYU Predictions for NCAAB on ESPN, 1/26

Before we get to the #1 Arizona vs. #13 BYU predictions, let’s set the stage for Monday night’s Big 12 battle. The Wildcats are widely viewed as the best team in college basketball, with a 20-0 record to show for it. They boast a top-5 offense and defense with freshman Koa Peat as the headliner. 

Meanwhile, BYU has just two losses so far this season. AJ Dybantsa looks like the real deal and a future NBA star. The Cougars own a potent offense themselves and are very live to win this game outright, especially with a notable home-court advantage. Can they get it done on the national stage tonight? Let’s get to our #1 Arizona vs. #13 BYU picks. 

#1 Arizona vs. #13 BYU Moneyline Pick: Wildcats ML (-125 on BetMGM Sportsbook) 

This game will surely be a tight, back-and-forth contest. Both teams boast top-tier offenses and defenses. Both teams have stud freshman playmakers and experienced contributors elsewhere. BYU and Arizona are pretty evenly matched, and the Cougars will be a popular pick with the home edge. Yet, our #1 Arizona vs. #13 BYU predictions come down to the Wildcats ML (-125 on BetMGM Sportsbook). 

Simply put, Arizona is the more complete team and slightly better on both ends of the floor. The Wildcats also bring in more proven results than BYU and won’t back down from a raucous road environment. Plus, the Cougs have a few notable offensive and defensive worries in this matchup. Let’s break it all down for our #1 Arizona vs. #13 BYU picks. 

BYU enters the game ranked 12th nationally in offensive efficiency and 25th in defensive efficiency, per KenPom. Those are impressive ratings, but Arizona has the edge in both. The Wildcats are 4th and 3rd in offensive and defensive efficiencies, respectively. 

Arizona’s dominance has been evident throughout its undefeated season, including a 7-0 mark in the Big 12. The Wildcats are also outscoring league opponents by 18.9 PPG thus far. As for BYU, its defense has been shaky lately. The Cougs are allowing 77.5 PPG across six conference games. That could be an issue against a ‘Zona offense that’s averaging 89.8 PPG this year (12th-most in the country). 

BYU’s pick-and-roll and interior defense could especially be tested tonight. Starting wing Kennard Davis is questionable to play and could be sidelined. His potential absence would create a notable void on the defensive end, especially when defending Brayden Burries and Koa Peat. It will also test BYU’s depth in the frontcourt to slow down Tobe Awaka and Motiejus Krivas, particularly if Dybantsa’s defensive responsibilities are shifted more to the wing. 

On the other end, BYU has a pair of glaring offensive weaknesses that will be tough to overcome against an elite defense like Arizona’s. The Cougars are shooting just 32.2% from three-point range in conference play (14th in Big 12) while ranking 13th in offensive turnover rate during league play. Plus, ‘Zona has the size and athleticism to match up with Dybantsa to keep the star scorer in check.

Furthermore, BYU has underperformed in its toughest games thus far. The Cougars lost both of their matchups against elite opponents (UConn and Texas Tech). They also barely edged out Clemson and Villanova in two other instances vs. top-30 KenPom teams, failing to cover the spread in both. Meanwhile, Arizona has taken care of business in its own hardest matchups. The Wildcats beat Alabama by 21 points on the road, took care of UConn on the road, and handled both Florida and Auburn in other notable non-conference battles. 

As tempting as it may be to back BYU at home here, we’re rolling with Arizona as the road favorite. The ‘Cats are proven on the road, have clear edges on both ends of the floor, and will be ready to get the win. The national title contenders headline our #1 Arizona vs. #13 BYU predictions. 

How To Watch #1 Arizona vs. #13 BYU NCAAB on ESPN

Now that you have our #1 Arizona vs. #13 BYU predictions, here’s how and when to watch Monday night’s game: 

• Date: Monday, January 26, 2006
• Time: 9:00 PM ET
• Location: Marriott Center, Provo, Utah
• TV: ESPN

#1 Arizona vs. #13 BYU Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines

Let’s now get to the full #1 Arizona vs. #13 BYU odds and betting lines ahead of tonight’s matchup, courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook:

• Moneyline: Arizona -125 | BYU +105
• Spread: Arizona -1.5 (-110) | BYU +1.5 (-110)
• Over/Under: 165.5 (Over -110 | Under -110)
   

#1 Arizona vs. #13 BYU Injury Report & Latest News

Arizona Injury Report

• None

BYU Injury Report

• Kennard Davis (G/F) – Questionable, Undisclosed
• Dawson Baker (G) – Out, Knee
• Xavion Staton (C) – Out, Undisclosed 
• Nate Pickens (G) – Out, Undisclosed 

Arizona comes in with a fully healthy roster. BYU, on the other hand, could be without a key player. Starting small forward Kennard Davis is questionable tonight with an undisclosed injury. The junior logged only 12 minutes in Saturday’s game after regularly playing 30 minutes previously. BYU will also be without guard Dawson Baker and center Xavion Staton, though both had already been sidelined.

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