Baylor vs BYU Picks and Prediction – 1/29/2025

The Baylor Bears (13-6) are set to face the BYU Cougars (13-6) on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:00 PM EST, with live coverage available on ESPN2. This matchup marks the 13th meeting between the two programs, with the all-time series currently tied at 6-6. In their last encounter, BYU secured a 78-71 victory over Baylor in Provo, evening the series. Get ready for the college basketball season with our college basketball picks.

Baylor enters the game following a 76-61 win against the Utah Utes. In that contest, forward Norchad Omier led the Bears with 22 points and 12 rebounds, showcasing his dominance in the paint. As a team, Baylor is averaging 79.9 points per game, ranking 62nd nationally, while shooting 46.0% from the field and 36.5% from beyond the arc. Defensively, the Bears allow 67.8 points per game, with opponents shooting 43.2% from the field. 

BYU, on the other hand, is coming off an impressive 80-52 victory over the Cincinnati Bearcats. Guard Richie Saunders was a standout performer, contributing 21 points and 5 rebounds. The Cougars boast a potent offense, averaging 80.4 points per game, which ranks 51st in the nation. They are shooting 48.2% from the field and 62.5% from three-point range, indicating a highly efficient offense. Defensively, BYU allows 66.2 points per game, with opponents shooting 41.6% from the field. 

This game is likely to be a shootout. BYU was able to stifle Cincinnati with a zone defense, but that strategy will not work against a Baylor team able to pour it in at the same rate as the Cougars. We look for a high scoring game, with the Baylot Bears taking the win 82-78.