#23 BYU vs. #4 Arizona Picks and Predictions: Big 12 Hoops
Written by: Nate Hornung
Published: Wed Feb 18, 2026, 2:07 pm ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
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As I've said before, there's never a night off in the Big 12. On Wednesday, we have the No. 4 ranked Arizona Wildcats hosting the No. 23 BYU Cougars after two straight losses to Kansas and Texas Tech last week. While BYU isn't at home in this game, they are still in a revenge spot after losing to the Wildcats by three in Provo a few games ago. Both teams will be missing key pieces of their lineup, but we are still in for a thrilling contest. Let's check out our CBB expert's favorite picks in this Big 12 battle.
Best Bet: BYU/Arizona Under 165 (-108) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
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#23 BYU Cougars vs. #4 Arizona Wildcats NCAA Basketball Insights
Kevin Young and the Cougars are looking for revenge, but are severely shorthanded against Arizona on the road
On Saturday, BYU guard Richie Saunders suffered a season ending ACL injury and his college career is over with. This severely hurts the Cougars ability to put the ball in the hoop, as Saunders averaged 18.0 points and 5.8 rebounds while leading the team in steals and shooting over 37.6% from deep. He was one of three Cougar players to average over eight points per game, and without him they will be looking for more scoring.
For the Wildcats, stud freshman Koa Peat will miss not only this game, but their Saturday matchup against the Houston Cougars as well. Typically, I would be worried about Arizona looking ahead, as they face a top three team coming off a loss and are currently playing a team they already beat. However, after suffering not one, but two losses last week, the Wildcats can't afford to drop anymore. They need to be focused and ready to go tonight.
Matchup Information – BYU vs. Arizona – February 18
- Venue & Location: McKale Memorial Center (Tucson, AZ)
- Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2026
- Kick Off: 9:00 p.m. Eastern
- Broadcast: ESPN
BYU vs. Arizona Betting Odds
Odds are courtesy of Lucky Rebel, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of February 18, 2026 at 11:38 a.m. eastern. Sign up today with and get a $1,250 deposit bonus, as well as 50 slot spins immediately. Lucky Rebel Sportsbook offers a wide variety of unique markets across nearly every sport imaginable.
Spread
- BYU +13 (-108)
- Arizona -13 (-112)
Moneyline
- BYU +600
- Arizona -1000
Total
- Over 165 (-112)
- Under 165 (-108)
#23 BYU vs. #4 Arizona NCAA Basketball Picks and Predictions
Jaden Bradley and Arizona look to avoid a third straight loss tonight at home
BYU vs. Arizona Prediction: Arizona Wins, BYU Covers, Under 165
Best Bet: BYU/Arizona Under 165 (-108) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
In the earlier meeting, Arizona led by as many as 19 before only winning the game by three. They tried to give it away, but I think the defense will be more focused in this contest. BYU does not get to the free throw line, especially on the road. This team is north of 170 in FT Rate offense in six true road games this year, and Arizona is not a team that fouls that often.
However, both are top 40 in FT Rate defense, so we shouldn't get too many points with the clock stopped. Arizona's defense will be the difference maker in this contest, ranking second overall in adjusted efficiency and third in the country in opponent eFG%. Without Saunders, it is much easier to contain BYU's offense, as the full focus should be on slowing down AJ Dybantsa. He went for 24 points in their earlier meeting, but he might need to drop a 40 ball tonight just to keep it competitive.
Ultimately, I don't see BYU scoring 80 in this game, and with Houston on the horizon, look for the Wildcats to slow things down and play a but slower than normal.
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Nate has been a recreational sports bettor for about 5 years. In that time, he has grown to love the pursuit of winners and sticking it to The Man. Nate loves data and uses his understanding of numbers to help him be a more profitable sports gambler, however he will be the first to tell you this game is about more than just stats.
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