Fresno State Bulldogs vs BYU Cougars NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/11/24

Looking to win big? The Bulldogs and Cougars face off at 9:00 ET on ESPN+. The Cougars are hosting the game at Marriott Center in Provo, UT. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 155.5 points, and BYU is favored by -27.5 at home against Fresno State.

FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS VS BYU COUGARS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Fresno State Bulldogs +27.5

This game will be played at Marriott Center at 9:00 ET on Wednesday, December 11th.

WHY BET THE FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 75-72 in favor of the Cougars.
• Even though we have BYU winning straight-up, we like Fresno State at +27.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 155.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 147 points.

Can the Fresno State Offense Score Enough on the Road?

The Bulldogs fell to 3-6 on the season after an 81-66 loss to Santa Clara on Saturday. Fresno State entered the game as +16 point underdogs but managed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 147, just under the O/U line of 156.

Fresno State trailed 36-25 at halftime but put up a fight in the 2nd half, scoring 41 points. However, they allowed 45 points in the 2nd half, which prevented them from closing the gap.

Fresno State’s offense put up 66 points in their last game, shooting 39% from the field and 44.1% in effective field goal percentage. They connected on 40% of their threes, going 6-for-15, while hitting 38.6% of their two-point attempts (17-for-44). At the free-throw line, they made 14 of 21 attempts, good for 66.7%.

Carlos Stewart Jr. led the Bulldogs with 18 points and 4 assists, hitting 3 of 4 from deep. Zaon Collins contributed 17 points and 6 assists, shooting 50% from the field. Tyeree Bryan was efficient, making 4 of 6 threes and finishing with 16 points, while Mykell Robinson struggled, going 6-for-18 overall but hitting 3 of 5 from beyond the arc.

Fresno State’s defense gave up 81 points in their last game, with opponents shooting 41% from the field on 26 of 62 attempts. They allowed 13 two-point field goals on 31 tries, also at a 41% clip.

From beyond the arc, Fresno State’s opponents hit 13 of 31 threes, again shooting 41%. They also sent the other team to the line 22 times, where they made 16 free throws, shooting 72%. Fresno State gave up 14 offensive rebounds.

Does BYU Stand a Chance at Home?

BYU fell to 6-2 on the season after an 83-64 road loss to Providence on Tuesday. The Cougars, who entered the game as -4.5 favorites, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game hit 147, going over the pre-game O/U line of 143.5.

BYU trailed 46-34 at halftime and couldn’t turn things around in the 2nd half, scoring just 30 points while allowing 37. The Cougars will need to regroup after this disappointing performance.

BYU struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 33.3% from the field and 28% from beyond the arc, finishing with 64 points. Their effective field goal percentage was 37.7%, and they hit 64.7% of their free throws.

Jabri Abdur-Rahim led the way with 21 points, hitting 4 of 7 threes, while Bryce Hopkins and Dawson Baker added 16 points each. Baker shot 63.6% from the field, and Bensley Joseph connected on 71.4% of his shots, including 2 of 3 from deep.

BYU’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 83 points on 59% shooting from the field. They allowed the opposing team to hit 65% of their two-point attempts, going 13/20.

From beyond the arc, BYU’s opponents shot 54%, making 12 of 22 threes. The Cougars also sent them to the line 26 times, where they converted 21 free throws at an 80% clip.