BYU vs Arizona Prediction 2/22/25 College Basketball Picks

The BYU Cougars and the Arizona Wildcats meet Saturday in college basketball action from McKale Center. Here’s a BYU vs Arizona prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best BYU vs Arizona pick. We will examine: 

The BYU Cougars’ recent form and player performance

The Arizona Wildcats’ recent form and player performance 

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the BYU Cougars

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Arizona Wildcats

Recent betting trends in games played between BYU and Arizona

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

BYU Cougars Betting Preview

The Cougars had a rough run last month but overall they’ve done quite well in the record column. BYU kicked things off with a nice 10-2 stretch featuring losses to only Ole Miss and Providence during that time. A 1-4 stretch came next with a win over Oklahoma State among losses to Houston, Texas Tech, TCU, and Utah. After wins over Colorado, Cincinnati, Baylor, and UCF in the next four, the Cougars took losses to Arizona and Cincinnati in consecutive games. Since then it’s been a win streak over West Virginia, Kansas State, and Kansas. That gives BYU an 18-8 overall run through their first 26 games of the 2024-25 campaign. 

On Tuesday versus Kansas in a home matchup, the Cougars kicked off with a dominant 46-26 first half. BYU kept it up from there on a 45-31 run and took the blowout victory 91-57. Leading the team in scoring was Richie Saunders with 22 points, two rebounds, and three assists. Trevin Knell added 15 points with eight boards and four assists, while Mawot Mag put up 13 points with two rebounds and one steal. Dallin Hall chipped in 10 points off the bench as well. 

Arizona Wildcats Betting Preview

Over on the Arizona side, they didn’t start out the year very well but they’ve been great since mid-December. The Wildcats opened on a 4-5 run, taking losses to Wisconsin, Duke, Oklahoma, West Virginia, and UCLA in that time. After wins over Samford, Central Michigan, TCU, Cincinnati, West Virginia, UCF and Baylor, Arizona fell to Texas Tech before wins over Oklahoma State, Colorado, Iowa State, Arizona State, BYU, and Texas Tech. Since then it’s been losses to Kansas State and Houston ahead of another victory over Baylor. In total that gives Arizona an 18-8 overall record as well through their first 26 outings this year. 

Matched up against Baylor on Monday, the Wildcats came out of the locker room with a 41-33 edge. Arizona kept the pace pretty well from there on 33 more points and took the eventual road win 74-67. Tobe Awaka led the team on a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Henri Veesaar (five rebounds; four assists; two steals) and Caleb Love (two rebounds) each notched 13 points, while Anthony Dell’Orso chipped in with 11 points and three rebounds. 

Why the Arizona Wildcats will win

• Arizona has won each of its last 22 games at McKale Memorial Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• BYU has lost three of its last four games when playing with a rest disadvantage.

Why the BYU Cougars will win

• BYU has won each of its last three night games.

Total Points Facts

• Each of BYU’s last seven road night games against the Big 12 Conference have produced a total of 150 or fewer points.
• Eight of Arizona’s last nine night games against non-AP-ranked opponents at McKale Memorial Center have produced a total of 153+ points.

BYU vs Arizona Prediction

I’ll stay with BYU, but we should have a pretty great matchup here regardless. The Cougars demolished a great Kansas team in their last outing, hitting 51.5 percent from the field with a 43-33 rebounding edge and 15 points off 15 Jayhawks turnovers. BYU did cough up 10 turnovers for 14 points themselves, but also played great defense with just 36.5 percent shooting allowed from the field. That makes three straight wins with 73 or more points scored in each for the Cougars. 

In these teams’ first meeting this year, the Cougars posted an 85-74 home loss. BYU gave up 49.2 percent shooting in that one and got outmuscled on the boards 45-30. This road rematch is going to be tricky, so I’d like to see the Cougars keep the shooting percentage up (it was 41.8 last time). Should be a fun matchup to watch, all things considered.