🏀 BYU vs. West Virginia Prediction & Odds: College Basketball Picks Today (Feb. 28)

No. 19 BYU is reeling after losing one of its star players, but looks to right the ship when facing West Virginia at WVU Coliseum at 5:30 p.m. ET (FOX). 

The Cougars are 1.5-point road favorites, but my BYU vs. West Virginia prediction backs the home underdogs despite entering amid a three-game losing streak. In addition to a score prediction, I offer my best player prop bet for AJ Dybantsa, who is on a short list of Wooden Award favorites.

🏀 BYU vs. West Virginia picks & odds today: Feb. 28

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: 3.0 units | Max profit: 2.71 units

💰 BYU vs. West Virginia prediction & best bet

West Virginia +1.5 (-110)

I am not penalizing the Mountaineers for a bubble-deflating loss to Oklahoma State, as the Cowboys are now 27-1 SU as favorites over the last two seasons, the best record of any D-I team. Meanwhile, BYU has lost two of three games since guard Richie Saunders went out with a torn ACL. 

After topping 80 points in nine of 12 conference games before his injury, the Cougars have averaged just 77 per game without Saunders. But it is BYU’s perimeter defense that is most concerning after allowing UCF to shoot 58.3% from beyond the arc in its last loss.

Score prediction: West Virginia 72, BYU 71

🔥 Best BYU vs. West Virginia player prop bet

AJ Dybantsa Over 25.5 points (-113)

After a 4-7 stretch in its last 11 games, BYU is coming dangerously close to finishing the regular season ninth or worse in the Big 12, which means its conference tournament would start as early as Tuesday. Thus, I expect head coach Kevin Young will continue to ride AJ Dybantsa as much as possible down the stretch.

Dybantsa has averaged 31 points per game since Saunders’ injury while playing 36-plus minutes in each. Prior to scoring 29 points against UCF, Dybantsa was tied for the D-I lead with 29.6 points per 40 minutes. 

Dybantsa’s increased scoring over the last three games have come despite facing two opponents ranked in the top seven in adjusted defensive efficiency (Arizona and Iowa State) in that span. That makes this a three-star wager despite having to contend with West Virginia’s 363rd-ranked pace of play. 

🚀 BYU vs. West Virginia same-game parlay

BYU trailed by 36 at one point in its last game against UCF, and the Cougars clearly aren’t the same team without Richie Saunders that won 12 Quad 1 and 2 games. But I also expect BYU’s top-50 adjusted tempo to win out against the slow-paced Mountaineers enough to cash the Over for the full game as well as AJ Dybantsa’s points.

💡 How I'm betting BYU vs. West Virginia

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

If the Over is going to cash, Cougars leading scorer AJ Dybantsa will likely have another big game, similar to his 93-point total over the last three. But role players tend to play better at home, which is why I am down on BYU’s supporting cast enough on the road to see West Virginia cover for just the second time in six games against ranked opponents.

All three bets are one-unit plays, as I am protecting against oddsmakers inflating certain lines, like Dybantsa’s point total amid his hot streak.

📊 Live BYU vs. West Virginia odds

All of the top sports betting sites were in unison with an opening number of BYU -1.5, which hadn’t budged anywhere as of Friday afternoon. The O/U was also the same across the board at 140.5, with early support 2/1 in favor of the Over. Those who prefer backing West Virginia’s moneyline odds given the low point spread would find the best price at FanDuel (+108).

📈 BYU vs. West Virginia betting trends

📺 How to watch BYU vs. West Virginia

• Date: Saturday, Feb. 28
• Tipoff: 5:30 p.m. ET
• Location: WVU Coliseum (Morgantown, W. Va.)
• TV: FOX