The BYU Cougars (12-3) travel to face off against the UCF Knights (10-4) on Saturday, January 13th. This game will be played at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando and televised on ESPN+. UCF is coming off a win in their previous game, while BYU is looking to get back on track from a loss to the Baylor. Tip-off is set for 4:00 ET.
BYU Cougars vs UCF Knights
The BYU Cougars Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
BYU has been much better at home this season, going 10-1 compared to just 2-2 on the road. They have an average scoring margin of +28.3 points per game at home and have been favored in 14 of their 15 games.
After losing 81-72 to Baylor, the Cougars are now 12-3 overall and have lost two straight games. Their record in the Big 12 is 0-2 compared to 12-1 in non-conference play.
BYU has been a solid team vs. the spread this season, going 11-4. Their road ATS record is currently 2-2, and over their last 10 games as the favorite, the Cougars are 7-3 vs. the spread.
BYU’s over/under record for the season currently sits at 5-10. So far, 12 of their games have had a higher over/under line than today’s total of 144.5. In their last three games, the average scoring total is 148 points, which is a bit lower than their season average of 150.6 points per game. On the year, their games have finished with an average of 151.9 points compared to an average over/under line of 151.9 points, resulting in an average margin of -1.3 points.
The UCF Knights Are Coming Off A Win
UCF’s average scoring margin at home this season is +17.4 points per game, compared to -12.7 on the road. They have gone 9-2 at home this season, and they have won their last four games at home.
So far this season, UCF has been the underdog in three games, going 1-2 in those contests. They are 9-2 when favored.
As the underdog, UCF has an ATS record of 1-2 this season and they are 7-7 overall. At home, the Knights have gone 7-4 ATS and over their last 10 games as the underdog, UCF has an ATS mark of 5-5.
So far this season, the over/under record for UCF games is 8-6. The average scoring total in their games this year is 140.5 points compared to an average over/under line of 139.6, resulting in an average margin of +0.9 points. On the year, 7 of their games have finished with more points than today’s over/under line of 144.5. Over their last three games, their over/under record is 1-2 with an average scoring total of 134 points.
BYU Offense Breakdown
Compared to their season average of 87.1 points per game, BYU struggled in their previous game. Against Baylor, the Cougars scored 72 points while finishing with a field goal percentage of 49.1%. Leading BYU in scoring vs. Baylor was Spencer Johnson with his 15 points. Trevin Knell also added 15 points for the Cougars.
| Name | PPG | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaxson Robinson (G) | 14.8 | 2.7 | 1.4 |
| Trevin Knell (G) | 13.1 | 4.0 | 1.8 |
| Spencer Johnson (G) | 10.8 | 5.5 | 4.1 |
UCF Offense Breakdown
UCF offense recently wrapped up a game with a total of 65 points against Kansas. In that game, they made 7/20 three-point attempts and achieved a field goal percentage of 42.3%. On the offensive front, the Knights have a season-long field goal percentage of 43%, ranking 300th nationally. When it comes to three-point shooting, they are ranked 280th in terms of percentage and 204th in three-pointers made.
| Name | PPG | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaylin Sellers (G) | 17.8 | 4.3 | 1.1 |
| Darius Johnson (G) | 14.1 | 2.9 | 3.6 |
| Marchelus Avery (F) | 10.1 | 4.7 | 0.9 |
BYU Team Defense
So far, the Cougars’ defense is ranked 24th in the country at 63.5 points per contest. In their previous game vs. Baylor, the Bears finished with a field goal percentage of 43% and a total of 81 points vs. BYU.
UCF Team Defense
This season, the UCF defense has been impressive, holding the 40th position in the country while permitting an average of 64.8 points per contest. In their previous game vs. Kansas, the Jayhawks finished with a field goal percentage of 42% and a total of 60 points vs. UCF.
Cougars vs Knights Trends
- Across the Cougars last three road games, the team averaged 75 points per game while allowing 70. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 1-2, while going 1-2 straight-up.
- Although UCF has a straight up record of 4-6 in their last ten home games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 5-5. The team averaged 66 points per game in these games.
- Spanning across their last ten games as the betting underdog, the Knights have gone 5-5 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 3-7.
- As the betting favorite, the Cougars have an ATS record of 2-1 in their last three games. In these matchups, their straight up record was 2-1.
Cougars vs Knights Prediction
The Knights come in as the underdog at +5, making them our top choice on the point spread. We not only expect them to cover the spread but also believe they have a strong chance of winning the game outright, especially if you’re aiming for a higher moneyline payout.
Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 144.5, and our model predicts the Cougars and Knights to score a combined 143 points. We recommend betting on the under.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:January 13, 2024 BYU Cougars, UCF Knights, Uncategorized