BYU vs Cincinnati Prediction 2/8/25 College Basketball Picks

The BYU Cougars are visiting the Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday, February 8th at the Fifth Third Arena. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a BYU Cougars vs Cincinnati Bearcats Prediction. We will examine:

The Cincinnati Bearcats’ recent form and player performance

The BYU Cougars’ recent form and player performance

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Cincinnati Bearcats

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the BYU Cougars

Recent betting trends in games played between the BYU Cougars and Cincinnati Bearcats

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the BYU Cougars vs Cincinnati Bearcats game

Cincinnati Bearcats Preview

The Cincinnati Bearcats have a 13-9 record this season and are sitting in 15th place in the Big 12. Cincinnati is coming off a 93-83 win over UCF. The Bearcats are 8-14 against the spread, and 4-18 in over/under, while having an 8-4 home record. 

Offensively, Cincinnati is averaging 71 points per game, which ranks 263rd in the nation. Defensively, they allow 63.9 points per game, which is the 18th-best nationally. The Bearcats shoot 44.9% from the field (178th), and 31.7% from beyond the arc (295th). The Bearcats shoot just 65.5% from the free-throw line (345th), and are grabbing 35.3 rebounds per game (205th).

Simas Lukosius leads Cincinnati in scoring with an average of 11.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, while Dillon Mitchell adds 10.8 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds per game.

BYU Cougars Lions Preview

The BYU Cougars have a 15-7 record this season and are sitting in 6th place in the Big 12. They are coming off a 74-85 loss to Arizona. The Cougars are 11-10-1 against the spread, and 11-10-1 in over/under while having a 2-4 road record.

Offensively, BYU is averaging 80.7 points per game, which is 43rd in the nation. Defensively, they allow 68.5 points per game (87th). The Cougars shoot 48.1% from the field (36th), and 37% from beyond the arc (48th). The Cougars shoot 68.5% from the free-throw line (293rd), and are grabbing 38.2 rebounds per game (57th).

Richie Saunders leads BYU in scoring this season, with an average of 15.1 points and 4.2 rebounds, while Trevin Knell adds 10 points per game.

Why the Cincinnati Bearcats will win

• Cincinnati has won each of its last 13 games at Fifth Third Arena when playing with a rest disadvantage.
• BYU has lost six of its last eight road games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Cincinnati has won the first half in six of its last seven night games at Fifth Third Arena.

Why the BYU Cougars will win

• 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.

BYU Cougars vs Cincinnati Bearcats Prediction

Both teams are tied 1-1 in wins in their previous two meetings, and in their previous meeting earlier this season, BYU won 80-52 at home, covering the spread, as the game went under the point total.

In this BYU Cougars vs Cincinnati Bearcats Prediction, Cincinnati is coming as a -1.5 road favorites. BYU should be favored, as they have a better record this season, and have destroyed Cincinnati in their previous meeting by 38 points. The Cougars have also been playing good basketball lately, as they are 4-1 in their last 5 games and 3-1-1 against the spread, while on the other hand, the Bearcats are struggling, with a 3-7 record in their last 10 games and 2-8 against the spread. The value here lies with the road team, so take the BYU Cougars and lay the points on the road.