BYU Cougars vs Texas Tech Red Raiders Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 01/17/2026

Game Time: 8:00 pm ET, Saturday, January 17, 2026

Venue:  United Supermarkets Arena, Lubbock, TX

Where to Watch:  ESPN

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  BYU +2.5, TTU -2.5; Over/Under:  158.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  BYU +2.5, TTU -2.5; Over/Under:  158.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  BYU +2.5, TTU -2.5; Over/Under:  158.5 points

BYU Cougars:  16-1 (4-0) (2nd place, Big 12)

Texas Tech Red Raiders:  13-4 (3-1) (6th place, Big 12)

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BYU Cougars:  5-0  last 5

Texas Tech Red Raiders:  4-1  last 5

BYU is entering this game with a 16-1 record overall, a 4-0 record in conference games, and they are 2-0 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a win against the TCU Horned Frogs in their last game. AJ Dybantsa led the team in points in that game with 25 while Richie Saunders was next on the team with 18. Robert Wright led the team in assists with 6 in that game while Keba Keita led the team in rebounds with 10. They were 35.3% from the field, 20.8% from 3-point range, and 79.3% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 87.5 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 68.8 PPG against them. BYU has an ATS record of 9-8 this season and their O/U record is 7-10.

Texas Tech is entering this game with a 13-4 record overall, a 3-1 conference record, and they are 9-0 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a win against the Utah Utes in their last game. JT Toppin led the team in points in that game with 31 while Christian Anderson was next on the team with 26. Christian Anderson led the team in assists with 10 in that game while JT Toppin led the team in rebounds with 13. They were 51.4% from the field, 41.9% from 3-point range, and 60% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 83.4 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 73.2 PPG against them. Texas Tech has an ATS record of 7-10 this season and their O/U record is 8-9.

The current betting odds have BYU listed as a 2.5 point underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. BYU has looked great in their games this season with their 16-1 record overall and their 4-0 conference record which has them right at the top of the Big 12. They have been a good road team too with their 2-0 road record this year. Meanwhile, Texas Tech has looked great in their games this season with their 13-4 record overall and their 3-1 conference record which has them right near the top of the Big 12. They have looked great on their home court too with their 9-0 home record this season. Texas Tech is off a win over Utah in their last one and they have picked up some good wins this season. They have a nice win over Duke in the preseason and their only Big 12 loss was a tight game on the road against Houston. They didn't have an easy schedule to start the season either and they have shown that they have the talent to go toe-to-toe with some really good teams. Texas Tech is always going to play tight games against these stronger opponents though, and this is going to be another big test for them with BYU looking like one of the best teams in the nation. BYU's only loss all season was against UConn in a 2 point game, but they have been rolling since that loss and didn't have an easy schedule in the preseason either. BYU has a lot of talent on their team too, so this is going to be a tight game either way between two of the best teams in the Big 12. It is best to take the points with BYU here, especially since they have one of the best players in the nation on their team and he could be the difference maker in a big game like this. The best way to place a bet here is on BYU to cover the spread in this game. 

BYU Texas Tech Prediction:  Our NCAAB Pick for Saturday, January 17, 2026 (8:00 pm ET start time) is BYU 84 Texas Tech 81.

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BYU Cougars: 24-16 ATS when the total is 150 to 159.5. 11-4 ATS versus up-tempo teams averaging 62 or more shots/game. 24-17 ATS versus very good teams - outscoring their opponents by 8+ points/game. 13-3 OVER off a home win against a conference rival.

Texas Tech Red Raiders: 2-6 ATS at home when playing against a top-level team (Win Pct. > 80%). 3-6 ATS when the total is 150 to 159.5. 5-8 ATS versus good ball handling teams - committing 14 turnovers/game or less. 29-19 OVER versus teams who are called for 17 or less fouls/game. 

BYU Cougars:  X. Staton (C) Questionable - Undisclosed. A. Ahmed (C) Questionable - Undisclosed. K. Perry (G) Out - Redshirt. D. Baker (G) Out - Knee. N. Pickens (G) Out - Undisclosed. B. Kozlowski (F) Out - Redshirt.

Texas Tech Red Raiders:  J. Henderson (G) Questionable - Undisclosed. L. Hoover (F) Out - Redshirt. L. Bamgboye (F) Questionable - Leg. J. Moseley (F) Questionable - Lower Body.

“I was proud of the way our guys executed. Look, to score 46 points against that team in the second half, that’s pretty impressive. That was our best offensive execution of the season, and we needed every bit of it.” - Kevin Young after his team’s win against TCU in their last game. 

"Is your conviction as a player equal to what needs to happen with the team? And that's where Donovan, I think, has honestly separated himself recently. He's not just like a try-hard guy that shows up every day and does his job. Now there's a conviction in who he is as a person." - Grant McCasland on Donovan Atwell this season. 

K. Davis 

A. Dybantsa 

K. Keita 

R. Saunders 

R. Wright

C. Anderson 

D. Atwell 

T. Bryan 

J. Toppin 

L. Watts

PPG: AJ Dybantsa (23.1)

APG: Robert Wright III (5.5)

Reb/G: Keba Keita (8.1)

PPG: JT Toppin (21.3)

APG: Christian Anderson (7.5)

Reb/G: JT Toppin (11.1)

Coaches:

BYU Cougars: Kevin Young (2nd season)

Texas Tech Red Raiders: Grant McCasland (3rd season)