The BYU Cougars travel to Cincinnati, Ohio, to take on Wes Miller and the Cincinnati Bearcats on Tuesday evening, and this one looks like a lot of fun. These two programs have been in different spots all season long, but as of late, the two are starting to look like one another. The Cougars started off strong and have been slipping as of late, while Cincinnati has found some life and is doing everything in its power to reach the Big Dance. Here’s a preview, prediction, key storylines, and updated odds to keep an eye on in this matchup as we get set for today’s game.
BYU vs. Cincinnati Basketball Updated Odds
The Cougars are currently listed as a 1.5-point favorite at home, with an over/under of 151.5 total points.
You can also find other NCAAB lines from across college basketball on FanDuel.
Key Storyline: Every Bit Matters
Right now, according to the latest Bracketology Update from Joe Lunardi, Wes Miller’s Bearcats are on the outside looking in at the NCAA Tournament. They are currently eight spots away from reaching pay dirt and need to win out and put on a good show in the Big 12 Tournament to improve their standing. Of course, none of that matters if you don’t take care of BYU. The Cougars have struggled recently, dropping games to UCF and West Virginia, and without one of their stars, Richie Saunders, this game could be incredibly close.
Match Up to Watch: BYU Offense vs. Cincinnati Defense
It’s not every day you get to see two Top Five units square up. Big 12 fans got a treat with this one as BYU enters the contest with the second-best offense in the Big 12, averaging 85 points per game, while Cincinnati holds the league’s fourth-best defense, giving up just 67.5 PPG. Cincinnati has been holding offensive teams to under their season averages all year long, and they will need to do it again against a group headlined by one of the nation’s leading scorers, AJ Dybantsa (24.9PPG).
Prediction: Cincinnati 75, BYU 74
Believe it or not, I’m rolling with momentum here. Cincinnati needs this game so much more than BYU does, and the game is at home. Wes Miller is coaching for his job and everything he’s worked for as the Bearcats head coach, and they should have a size advantage in the front court between Moustapha Thiam and Baba Miller. I totally expect this game to be close, but I’ll take Cincinnati in a back-and-forth game til the end.
