🏀 BYU vs. Arizona Prediction & Odds: College Basketball Picks Today (Feb. 18)

In one of two ranked matchups tonight in college basketball, No. 4 Arizona looks to end its two-game losing streak when it hosts No. 23 BYU from McKale Memorial Center in Tucson, Ariz.

The Wildcats are an 11.5-point betting favorite for tonight's 9 p.m. ET tip (ESPN), and as part of my college basketball predictions, my BYU vs. Arizona prediction expects Tommy Lloyd's team to take advantage of a Cougars squad without Richie Saunders.

And don't miss our Arkansas vs. Alabama prediction for the other ranked matchup on ESPN tonight.

🏀 BYU vs. Arizona picks & odds today: Feb. 18

See all of our experts' college basketball picks based on the latest college basketball odds; picks rated on a 1-to-5 star confidence scale based on betting value.

Total wagered: 3 units | Max profit: 3.2 units

💰 BYU vs. Arizona prediction & best bet

Arizona -11.5 (-120)

Despite Arizona losing two in a row after starting the season 23-0, there's no cause for concern as the Wildcats play a third straight team ranked in the top 25. BYU has been beaten up on in Big 12 play, covering just once in its last 10 games.

During this tough stretch for the Cougars, they've lost four straight games to ranked opponents. And with Saunders out (18 PPG), AJ Dybantsa and Co. are going to struggle to keep up with the Wildcats.

Arizona is one of four teams ranked top 11 in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency.

Score prediction: Arizona 88, BYU 75

🔥 Best BYU vs. Arizona player prop bet

Brayden Burries 20+ points (+146)

While Dybantsa has the second-shortest Wooden Award odds, he's not the only star freshman taking the court tonight. Brayden Burries leads Arizona in PPG (15.7) and is averaging 17.6 PPG with a 58% effective field-goal percentage in Big 12 play.

With fellow freshman Koa Peat, the team's second-leading scorer (13.8), still dealing with a lower-body injury, Burries will need to carry the load against a BYU team allowing the third-most PPG in conference matchups (83.1).

Burries has gone for 20-plus in three of his last six games, including dropping 29 on BYU a few weeks ago.

🚀 BYU vs. Arizona same-game parlay

BYU has been in a slump, and it doesn't look like it's going to break out of it on the road without its second-best player (Saunders). The Cougars' defensive issues will be too much to overcome against a team as versatile as Arizona. The key to it all for the Wildcats has been Burries, who was the MVP of the team's last win over BYU.

💡 How I'm betting BYU vs. Arizona

Follow all of our college basketball analysis and expert predictions this season.

This game looked a lot better a few weeks ago, before BYU hit a wall and lost Saunders for the season. Though it remains one of the better games on the schedule tonight, I'm all in on Arizona taking care of business at home and putting a full unit on them to cover.

The Wildcats are in much better shape, even coming off two straight losses, and I couldn't be more confident in Burries continuing to play like a future NBA lottery pick. He was unstoppable on both ends last time these two teams matched up, and it doesn't seem to matter that BYU has a top-three pick in Dybantsa.

This screams high scoring Arizona cover to me, which is why I'm spreading three units across the Wildcats covering, the game hitting the Over, and Burries. However, I wouldn't take Arizona at more than -12.5, nor Burries to hit 20-plus points at shorter than +125.

📊 Live BYU vs. Arizona odds

Arizona opened between a 12.5 and 13.5-point betting favorite, with the line coming down to -11.5. I don't suspect it will drop any further than that, especially with the news that Saunders is done for the season. The game total has seen even more movement, opening at 166.5 and dropping to 162.5. 

📈 BYU vs. Arizona betting trends

📺 How to watch BYU vs. Arizona

• Date: Wednesday, Feb. 18
• Tipoff: 9 p.m. ET
• Location: McKale Memorial Center
• TV: ESPN