BYU Cougars vs Colorado Buffaloes NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/21/25
Planning on watching today’s Cougars and Buffaloes game? Catch the action at CU Events Center in Boulder, CO, as the Buffaloes hosts this showdown at 11:00 ET on ESPNU. BYU is favored by -4.5 in this Big 12 conference matchup the against Colorado. The over/under for the game is set at 145.5 points.
BYU COUGARS VS COLORADO BUFFALOES BETTING PICK
The Pick: Colorado Buffaloes +4.5
This game will be played at CU Events Center at 11:00 ET on Tuesday, January 21st.
WHY BET THE COLORADO BUFFALOES:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-69 in favor of the Buffaloes.
- Not only will Colorado pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +4.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 145.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.
Pressure Builds for BYU as Away Favorites
BYU Cougars Recent Game/Games
BYU fell to 11-6 on the season following a narrow 73-72 loss to Utah on Saturday. The Cougars, who were slight favorites at -1, didn’t cover the spread in this one.
BYU led 30-27 at halftime but were outscored 37-34 in the second half. The game’s total points came in under the O/U line of 151.5, finishing at 145.
BYU’s offense struggled from the field in their last game, shooting just 38.5% overall and 26.7% from three-point range, connecting on 8 of 30 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 43.6%, and they hit only 4 of 10 free throws.
Ezra Ausar led the way with 26 points on 11 of 15 shooting, while Richie Saunders and Fousseyni Traore each added 16 points. Saunders also contributed 7 rebounds and 4 assists, and the Cougars grabbed 15 offensive boards as a team, finishing with 16 assists.
BYU’s defense gave up 73 points while allowing the opposing team to shoot 44% from the field, as they connected on 25 of 56 attempts. Inside the arc, BYU struggled, giving up 19 two-point baskets on 33 attempts, a 57% shooting rate.
From three-point range, BYU held their opponent to just 6 made threes on 23 attempts, a 26% shooting performance. The Cougars also sent the other team to the free-throw line 32 times, where they made 17, shooting 53%. BYU allowed 9 offensive rebounds in the game.
Can the Colorado Offense Score Enough at Home?
Colorado Buffaloes Recent Game/Games
Colorado dropped to 9-8 on the season after an 83-73 road loss to Oklahoma State on Saturday. Entering the game as +3.5 point underdogs, the Buffaloes failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game hit 156, surpassing the over/under line of 145.5.
Colorado found themselves trailing 43-33 at halftime. While they managed to score 40 points in the second half, they couldn’t close the gap, as they also allowed 40 points to the Cowboys in the final period.
In their latest game, the Buffaloes put up 73 points, shooting 46.9% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 53.1%, thanks to a strong 66.7% shooting on two-pointers, though they struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 5 of 22 attempts (22.7%).
At the free-throw line, Colorado excelled, converting 22 of 25 attempts for an 88% success rate. Bangot Dak, Bryce Thompson, and Marchelus Avery each contributed 15 points, with Avery knocking down 2 of 5 threes and grabbing 7 rebounds.
Colorado’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 83 points on 46% shooting from the field. They allowed 17 two-point baskets on 33 attempts, a 51% conversion rate.
From beyond the arc, their opponents hit 6 of 17 threes, shooting 35%. Colorado also sent them to the line 42 times, where they made 31 free throws, a 73% rate. The Buffaloes allowed 13 offensive rebounds.