The BYU Cougars (8-0) travel to face off against the Utah Runnin’ Utes (6-2) on Saturday, December 9th. This game will be played at Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City and televised on PACN. Both team’s come into this one having won their previous games. Tip-off is set for 7:00 ET.

BYU Cougars vs Utah Runnin’ Utes

The BYU Cougars Are Coming Off A Win

BYU is preparing for their 9th game of the season, bringing with them a perfect 8-0 record. In their last three road games, BYU has a record of 2-1, including last season. As of now, BYU has a perfect 7-0 record against the spread heading into today’s game. Examining their performance in the team’s previous five games, they are also 5-0 vs. the spread.

Through eight games, BYU has an over/under record of 2-5-0 with their games averaging a combined 150.9 points per game so far. When assessing the Cougars’ performance in their last three games, their over/under record stands at 1-2, with their games averaging 157 points per game.

The Utah Runnin’ Utes Are Coming Off A Win

Utah is entering their 9th game of the season with a 6-2 record. In their last ten home games, which includes games from last year, Utah has a 5-5 record. Utah is currently performing well against the spread, sitting above .500 with a 5-2 ATS record. This includes a 2-0 record on the road vs. the spread and a 3-2 record at home.

After eight games, Utah has an over/under record of 4-2-1, with their games averaging a combined 151.1 points per game so far. The Runnin’ Utes’ last five games have culminated with an average of 156 points per game and an over/under record of 4-0-1.

BYU Offense Breakdown

BYU’s offense is coming off a good game, putting up 85 points vs. Fresno State. Overall, they hit 49.3% of their shots from the field and went 6/9 from the free-throw line. For the season, the BYU offense has struggled to get to the free-throw line, ranking just 301st in terms of free-throw attempts per game. Their overall field goal percentage is currently 49%.

Name	PPG	REB	AST
Jaxson Robinson (G)	16.9	3.2	1.4
Trevin Knell (G)	12.1	4.6	2.4
Spencer Johnson (G)	11.9	5.0	4.6

Utah Offense Breakdown

Coming off a good offensive performance, Utah’s offense scored 79 points against Hawaii. Their field goal percentage for the game was 52.6%, and they went 14/17 from the free-throw line. Leading the team in scoring was Branden Carlson with 17 points. Hunter Erickson also added 15 points for the Runnin’ Utes.

Name	PPG	REB	AST
Branden Carlson (C)	17.3	6.3	1.7
Gabe Madsen (G)	14.2	4.4	1.6
Rollie Worster (G)	11.1	5.5	6.0

BYU Team Defense

So far this season, the BYU defense has been performing well, ranking 8th in the country at 59.0 points allowed per contest. Against Fresno State in their most recent game, the BYU defense gave up a total of 56 points while allowing Fresno State to hit 46% of their shots.

Utah Team Defense

So far, the Runnin’ Utes’ defense is ranked 154th in the country at 72.4 points per contest. On average, opposing teams are hitting 9.8 threes per game vs. BYU. This has come on three-point shooting percentage of 36.2%.

Cougars vs Runnin’ Utes Trends

• When looking at their past three road matchups, BYU has an ATS record of 2-0-1 while averaging 77 per game. The team went 2-1 overall in these games.
• Utah has played well in their previous three home games, going 2-1 straight up. In this stretch, they averaged 71 points per game while allowing 70. The team also performed well vs the spread at 2-1.
• Going back to their last five games as the underdog, the Runnin’ Utes have a straight up record of 1-4. But, their mark vs the spread was just 1-4.
• Going back to their last ten games as the favorite, the Cougars have a straight up record of 10-0. But, their mark vs the spread was just 10-0.

Cougars vs Runnin’ Utes Prediction

As the underdogs with a spread of +5, we recommend going with the Runnin’ Utes on the point spread. We not only see them covering the spread but also have a strong likelihood of winning this one outright, especially if you’re seeking a higher payout on the moneyline.

As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 153, and our model projects the Cougars and Runnin’ Utes to reach a combined total of 143 points. Our bet is on taking the under.

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All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

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* 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.