The UCF Knights (13-9) travel to face off against the BYU Cougars (17-6) on Tuesday, February 13th. This game will be played at Marriott Center in Provo and televised on ESPN+. BYU is coming off a win in their previous game, while UCF is looking to get back on track from a loss to the Texas Tech. Tip-off is set for 9:00 ET.
UCF Knights vs BYU Cougars
The UCF Knights Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
UCF enters this game as a +10.5 underdog, and they have gone 3-7 as underdogs this season. The Knights are 13-9 overall and 4-6 in Big 12 play. Over their last 10 games, UCF is just 3-7 on the road, and they have lost their last three road games.
So far this season, UCF has gone 2-5 on the road, compared to 11-4 at home. Their average scoring margin on the road is -9.3, while it is +13.5 at home. In their last game, the Knights lost to Texas Tech by a score of 66-59.
When looking at UCF’s ATS record this season, they have gone 12-9-1. On the road, their ATS mark is 3-4 and vs. the spread as the underdog, they are 5-4-1. Over their last 10 games as the underdog, the Knights are 5-4-1 and their last 3 road ATS mark is 2-1.
So far this season, the over/under record for UCF sits at 11-11. The average scoring total in their games is 136.3 points, which is lower than the average over/under line of 138.7. Today’s over/under line of 143.5 is higher than the average scoring total in their games this season. Over their last three games, their over/under record is 2-1.
The BYU Cougars Are Coming Off A Win
BYU has been a completely different team when playing at home this season, as they are 13-2 compared to 4-4 on the road. They have won their last two games at home and have gone 8-2 in their last 10 games in Provo.
On the season, the Cougars have been favored in 19 of their 23 games and have gone 17-2 in those games. They are also 5-5 in Big 12 play compared to 12-1 in non-conference action.
BYU has an overall ATS record of 14-8-1 this season, including an 11-4 mark at home. Over their last 10 games as the favorite, the Cougars are 6-3-1 vs. the spread.
This season, the over/under record in BYU games is 10-13 and the average scoring total in their games is 149.8 points. Today’s over/under line of 143.5 is lower than the average OU line in their games this year (150). Over their last three games, the over/under record is 1-2 and the average scoring total is 147 points.
UCF Offense Breakdown
Compared to their season average of 71.3 points per game, UCF struggled in their previous game. Against Texas Tech, the Knights scored 59 points while finishing with a field goal percentage of 36.5%. In terms of offense, the Knights have a season-long field goal percentage of 41%, putting them 368th in the NCAA. Regarding three-pointers, they are ranked 325th in percentage and 217th in three-pointers made.
| Name | PPG | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaylin Sellers (G) | 17.0 | 4.1 | 1.2 |
| Darius Johnson (G) | 13.2 | 3.0 | 3.9 |
| Marchelus Avery (F) | 8.8 | 4.4 | 0.7 |
BYU Offense Breakdown
In contrast to their season average of 83.1 points per game, the BYU had a below average performance. They scored 72 points against Kansas State and had a field goal percentage of 42.9%. The top scorer for the Cougars was Fousseyni Traore with 14 points, while Spencer Johnson also added 12 to the scoreboard.
| Name | PPG | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaxson Robinson (G) | 13.5 | 2.5 | 1.6 |
| Spencer Johnson (G) | 11.2 | 5.5 | 3.3 |
| Trevin Knell (G) | 11.1 | 3.8 | 1.5 |
UCF Team Defense
UCF’s defense has been playing well, ranking 32nd nationally, with 65.0 points allowed per game. On average, opposing teams are hitting 6.8 threes per game vs. BYU. This has come on three-point shooting percentage of 32.0%.
BYU Team Defense
At this time, the Cougars’ defense is positioned 49th in the country, permitting 66.7 points per game. Against Kansas State, the Cougars’ defense gave up 66 points and did a good job not fouling. For the game, Kansas State only made 10 free-throws.
Knights vs Cougars Trends
- Across their last three road contests, UCF has a 2-1 record vs the spread. Their overall mark in these games was 0-3, while averaging 52 points per game.
- When looking at their past ten home matchups, BYU has an ATS record of 4-4-2 while averaging 73 per game. The team went 5-5 overall in these games.
- Looking back on the team’s last ten games as the underdog, the Knights have a straight up record of 3-7. Their record vs the spread in these games was 5-4-1.
- As the betting favorite, the Cougars have an ATS record of 3-1-1 in their last five games. In these matchups their, straight up record was 5-0.
Knights vs Cougars Prediction
Entering the game as underdogs with a spread of +10.5, the Knights is our point spread pick. Our projections not only see them covering the spread but also indicate a solid chance of an outright victory. This is a good choice for those looking for a higher moneyline payout.
Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 143.5 and given that our model is projecting 144 points between the teams, we like the over.
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:February 13, 2024 BYU Cougars, UCF Knights