BYU vs Arizona Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight's College Basketball Game

Yonke's prediction: Burries steps up for shorthanded Wildcats.

JD Yonke - Betting Analyst at Covers.com
JD Yonke • Betting Analyst
Feb 18, 2026 • 11:19 ET • 4 min read

NCAAB

Match starts: 8 hrs
BYU
59 %
ARIZ
41 %
EXPERT PICK - PROP
Brayden Burries o18.5  Points (-110) Brayden Burries o18.5 Points (-110)
Read Analysis
Arizona Wildcats Brayden Burries NCAAM
Photo By - Reuters Connect. Arizona Wildcats guard Brayden Burries.

The No. 4 Arizona Wildcats aim to bounce back from their first two losses of the season as they host the No. 23 BYU Cougars on Wednesday night. 

My BYU vs. Arizona predictions and college basketball picks believe an opportunity has arisen for Brayden Burries due to notable absences on both sides of the matchup on February 18.

BYU vs Arizona prediction

BYU vs Arizona best bet: Brayden Burries Over 18.5 points (-110)

BYU Cougars guard Richie Saunders being out will garner most of the attention, but don’t overlook that the Arizona Wildcats will be without two impact freshmen in Koa Peat and Dwayne Aristode. 

This will lead to a concentration of usage for both offenses, and Arizona guard Brayden Burries is poised to capitalize with a strong effort. 

The five-star freshman leads his team in scoring (15.7 ppg) and OBPR (+4.86), and has hit his stride by averaging 19.3 ppg across his last eight games. He should torch a BYU defense ranked 180th in adjusted efficiency since January 10.

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BYU vs Arizona same-game parlay

Arizona will be out for blood after suffering its first two losses of the season.

Tommy Lloyd’s squad possesses the talent and motivation to run away from a hobbled BYU team without one of its best players, and the Cougars aren’t a big threat on the road (338th in Haslametrics’ Away From Home metric).

Burries torched BYU for 29 points in the first matchup and has hit 2+ triples in five of his last eight games. 

BYU vs Arizona SGP

  • Brayden Burries Over 18.5 points
  • Brayden Burries Over 1.5 3-pointers
  • Arizona -12.5

Our beyond the arc SGP: Concentrated scoring

Depleted benches will translate into a decrease in pace, and an uptick in usage rates.

BYU vs Arizona SGP

  • Brayden Burries Over 18.5 points
  • Brayden Burries Over 1.5 3-pointers
  • Robert Wright III Over 20.5 points
  • Under 162.5

BYU vs Arizona odds

  • Spread: BYU +12.5 | Arizona -12.5
  • Moneyline: BYU +680 | Arizona -1100
  • Over/Under: Over 162.5 | Under 162.5

BYU vs Arizona betting trend to know

BYU has allowed at least one opposing player to score 19+ points in 12 consecutive games. Find more college basketball betting trends for BYU vs. Arizona.

How to watch BYU vs Arizona

Location McKale Memorial Center, Tucson, AZ
Date Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Tip-off 9:00 p.m. ET
TV ESPN

BYU vs Arizona key injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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JD Yonke
Betting Analyst

JD is a diehard college football fan with five years of experience writing betting and fantasy content for publications such as SportsGrid, Fantasy Points, Fantrax, and Devy Watch. An avid reader, he uses his inclination to look at things with an exhausting and in-depth, analytic viewpoint combined with a love for statistics and metrics to form a well-rounded handicapping approach.

e's an integral member of the niche (but growing!) college fantasy football community, twice traveling to Canton, OH for the Fantasy Football Expo as a member of the CFF King's Classic drafting squad. His specialization in college football DFS and prop betting taught him that there are exploitable markets to be found and that narrowing your focus is integral to being a profitable bettor.

A lifelong Californian who grew up playing baseball, basketball, football, and lacrosse, he's glad to share a passionate love for sports with this wonderful community.

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