BYU Cougars vs Utah Runnin’ Utes NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/18/25
Looking to win big? The Cougars and Runnin’ Utes face off at 9:00 ET on ESPN+. The Runnin’ Utes are hosting the game at Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, UT. The odds for this Big 12 conference game currently have Utah as the -1.5 point favorite with the over/under line sitting at 151.5 points.
BYU COUGARS VS UTAH RUNNIN’ UTES BETTING PICK
The Pick: Utah Runnin’ Utes -1.5
This game will be played at Jon M. Huntsman Center at 9:00 ET on Saturday, January 18th.
WHY BET THE UTAH RUNNIN’ UTES:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 79-69 in favor of the Runnin’ Utes.
- Not only will Utah pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -1.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 151.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 148 points.
Do the Cougars Have What it Takes in Salt Lake City?
BYU improved to 11-5 on the season with an 85-69 win over Oklahoma State on Tuesday. The Cougars, who were -14 favorites, covered the spread in the victory. The total points for the game reached 154, surpassing the O/U line of 147.5.
BYU jumped out to a 46-26 lead by halftime but allowed 43 points in the second half while scoring 39. Despite the defensive lapse, the Cougars’ early lead was enough to secure the win.
BYU’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 85 points on 51.9% shooting from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 63.5%, thanks in part to hitting 42.9% of their threes, connecting on 12 of 28 attempts.
Trevin Knell led the way with 18 points, knocking down 4 threes, while Jamyron Keller also hit 4 from deep, shooting 66.7% from beyond the arc. Dallin Hall was perfect from the field, going 4 for 4, including 3 for 3 from three-point range.
BYU’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 69 points on 51% shooting from the field. The Cougars allowed their opponent to connect on 62% of their two-point attempts, as they went 15/24 from inside the arc.
From three-point range, BYU’s defense allowed 12 threes on 28 attempts, a 42% shooting performance. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 27 times, where they made 19 for 70%. The Cougars gave up 10 offensive rebounds.
Can Utah Live Up to the Hype at Home?
Utah Runnin’ Utes Recent Game/Games
Utah improved to 10-6 on the season with a 73-65 road win over TCU on Wednesday. The Utes entered the game as +4.5 point underdogs but not only pulled off the upset, they also covered the spread.
Utah led 30-26 at halftime and put up 43 points in the 2nd half while allowing 39. The total points for the game came in at 138, just under the O/U line of 143.5.
Utah’s offense put up 73 points in their last game, shooting 49% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 55.1%. They were strong inside, hitting 64.3% of their two-point attempts, but struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 28.6% of their threes (6/21).
Vasean Allette led the way with 19 points and 9 rebounds, despite shooting 37.5% overall. Gabe Madsen added 17 points, though he hit just 26.7% from the field and 18.2% from three. Keanu Dawes was efficient, scoring 16 points on 7/10 shooting.
Utah’s defense was solid, holding their opponent to 65 points on 37% shooting from the field. They limited two-point shots effectively, with the other team making just 17 of 44 attempts for 38%.
From beyond the arc, Utah allowed 7 threes on 20 attempts, a 35% shooting rate. They also sent their opponent to the line 21 times, where they converted 10 free throws, shooting 47%.