Utah Utes vs BYU Cougars Prediction, 12/12/2020 College Basketball Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Utah Utes vs BYU Cougars

Date: Saturday, December 12, 2020

Location: Marriott Center in Provo, UT

TV: ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: Utah (+1.5)

The BYU Cougars (5-2) host the Utah Utes (2-0) at Marriott Center on Saturday. Utah opens this game as 1.5-point underdogs. The total has been set at 142.5.

Utah heads into this contest with a win-loss record of 2-0 so far this year. They average 75.5 points per outing (148th in the country) on 47.1% from the field. The Utes are connecting on 40.0% from downtown (16 of 40) and 65.7% from the free throw line. As a unit, Utah is pulling down 34.0 boards per contest and has totaled 42 dimes for the campaign, which ranks 230th in D-1 in terms of passing the ball. They lose possession by turning the ball over 13.0 times per game and as a unit are committing 15.5 fouls every game. When they are on defense, the Utes are able to force 16.0 turnovers per contest while drawing 16.5 personal fouls. The Utes defense is allowing a FG percentage of 35.9% (46 of 128) and they relinquish 42.0 rebounds per game as a team. They are currently ranked 21st in D-1 in giving up assists with 17 surrendered so far this season. They are relinquishing 21.2% on three-point shots and they are 45th in D-1 in points per game from their opponents (60.5).

The Utah Utes took the court against the Idaho State Bengals and walked away with a win by a score of 75-59 in their last game. Utah wrapped up the game having earned a 50.9% field goal percentage (28 of 55) and converted 9 of their 18 three-point attempts. From the free throw line, the Utes made 10 of 14 attempts for a rate of 71.4%. In regard to rebounding, they earned a total of 22 with 3 of them being of the offensive sort. They also doled out 21 assists for the contest as well as having 10 steals and 3 blocks. In relation to the defense, Utah allowed their opponent to shoot 50.9% from the floor on 28 out of 55. Idaho State distributed 10 dimes and 5 steals for the game. Furthurmore, the Bengals collected 36 boards (13 offensive, 23 defensive) and got 3 blocks. Idaho State finished 85.7% at the free throw line by knocking down 12 of 14 shots. They also made 5 of 22 shots from distance.

Timmy Allen is a player who was a factor for this game. He accumulated 11 points on 3 of 9 shooting. He saw the court for 32 mins played and also snagged 4 rebounds. Allen ended up going 33.3% from the floor and totaled 3 dimes. An additional guy that came through in the matchup for the Utes was Mikael Jantunen. He snagged 4 rebounds and also totaled 2 assists. He ended up shooting 57.1% from the field in this game via 4-of-7 (10 points). When this game wrapped up, Jantunen played for 30 minutes.

BYU has a win-loss mark of 5-2 for the season. The Cougars are committing 19.0 fouls per game and they go 63.4% from the free throw line. Their rate of earning assists is at 17.1 times per contest (56th in college basketball) and they are giving up possession 14.6 times per contest. BYU has accumulated 540 pts for the campaign (77.1 per contest) and they pull down 39.3 rebounds per game. On the offensive side of the ball, the Cougars are hitting on 46.3% from the field, which is 145th in the country. The Cougars on the defensive side of the court are 113th in college hoops in PPG given up with 66.4. They have allowed 12.0 assists and 35.6 rebounds on a nightly basis, which is ranked 115th and 154th in college basketball. The BYU defense gives up 35.9% on shots from 3-point land (37 of 103) and opponents are converting on 64.9% of their shots from the free throw line. They are able to force 14.4 TO's per game and allow teams to shoot 40.7% from the floor (120th in D-1).

In their last game, the BYU Cougars took a defeat with a final score of 74-70 against the Boise State Broncos. The Cougars earned 26 defensive boards and 4 offensive rebounds totaling 30 for this game. They also turned away 2 shots while earning 2 steals in the matchup. The Broncos committed 23 fouls in this game which took the Cougars to the charity stripe for a total of 18 shots. They were able to knock down 11 of the free throw attempts for a clip of 61.1%. When discussing shots from distance, BYU buried 7 out of 21 tries (33.3%). When the final whistle blew, the Cougars went 26 out of 52 from the floor which had them shooting 50.0%. The Cougars allowed the Broncos to make 27 of their 58 tries from the floor which gave them a shooting percentage of 46.6% in this matchup. They shot 60.0% from behind the 3-point line via 6 of 10 and walked away from this one shooting 14 out of 21 from the free throw line (66.7%). In reference to rebounding, BYU allowed Boise State to grab 28 overall (6 on the offensive glass).

Alex Barcello was pivotal for the Cougars in this contest. He converted 7 of 11 for this contest giving him a rate of 63.6%, which had him sitting at 22 points. Barcello collected 3 boards in his 34 minutes and had 3 assists in the game. An additional guy who saw a lot of action for BYU was Matt Haarms. He left the arena with 18 points in his 25 minutes on the hardwood by way of 7 out of 10 shooting in this matchup. Haarms finished going 70.0% from the field as well as contributing 2 assists and 4 boards.

Who will win tonight's college basketball game against the spread?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take BYU (-1.5)

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