BYU vs. Arizona State Expert Pick and Prediction – February 26, 2025

BYU VS. ARIZONA STATE EXPERT PICK AND PREDICTION – February 26, 2025 — It’s all there for BYU. The Cougars had no idea what they were going to get out of their first year under Kevin Young, but it’s safe to say things have worked out. BYU has gotten hot recently, and they’re now thinking double bye in the Big 12 tournament.

As for the big tournament, this is the Cougars’ chance to lock things up. BYU needs to find at least two wins out of four to feel good about its chances, with three doing the job for sure. And this represents a golden opportunity for a Quad 1 victory in the desert.

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It speaks to the depth of the Big 12 that Arizona State is considered a Quad 1 win when the Sun Devils wouldn’t be eligible for the NIT right now. At 13-14 and with potentially four Quad 1 games left out of four, Arizona State needs a miracle to finish on the right side of .500.

The bigger question in Tempe right now: can the Sun Devils save Bobby Hurley’s job? Truthfully, ASU has $3.5 million reasons not to fire Hurley, as he’d be going into the final year of his contract next season anyway. Besides that, Arizona State scheduled ridiculously tough. The Sun Devils have played the nation’s second-toughest schedule, which is why they remain a Quad 1 opportunity. When the worst thing on your resume is a loss at Oklahoma State (Quad 2), there’s only so far you can drop.

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So this is more of an opportunity for the Sun Devils to show Hurley deserves one more chance. Hanging tough with BYU would be a point in his favor. Another disappearing act would only intensify the yells.

The Odds

Tipoff

When: Wednesday, February 26 at 9:30 p.m.

Where: Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, Ariz. 

TV: ESPN+

Public Bets: Unavailable

Public Money: Unavailable

BYU vs. Arizona State In-Season Trends

Maybe the Sun Devils should have slowed down the pace from the beginning. Arizona State finally won one last time out, holding Kansas State to 54 points in the victory. That marked the first time since a win over West Virginia that Arizona State had held someone below 60 points. In all four of the Sun Devils’ Big 12 wins, the opponent scored less than 70.

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BYU doesn’t push the pace, but the Cougars shoot the ball so well that they don’t have to. They’re an over team because they make more shots than they miss. They’ve now played to the over in six of their past eight games, with one push.

The Difference-Makers

Richie Saunders is coming off 22 against Kansas and 23 against Arizona, both of which went in the win column. He dropped 30 on the Sun Devils last time out, and BYU won going away. If the Sun Devil defense can’t keep him in check, this will not be close.

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When you go 6-for-29 as a team from behind the arc, you’re not going to beat a lot of people. Alston Mason has to be more accurate with his shot to get the percentage up to where Arizona State can reasonably score with the Cougars.

The Pick

Arizona State needs to keep the offense in check to really have a chance. Against BYU, the only real thing to say is good luck. The Cougars are hitting on all cylinders right now, and they’re locked in to try to make the game with Iowa State for a double bye.

ASU’s saving grace would be catching the Cougars looking ahead to the Cyclones. But with a home game with West Virginia in between that, the Sun Devils aren’t catching BYU looking ahead.