The BYU Cougars take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders in Lubbock, Texas. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Texas Tech is favored by 2.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -160. The total is set at 158.5 points.
Here’s my BYU vs. Texas Tech predictions and college basketball picks for January 17, 2026.
BYU vs Texas Tech Prediction
My Pick: Texas Tech ML -160
My BYU vs Texas Tech best bet is on the Red Raiders to win outright. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
BYU vs. Texas Tech Odds
| BYU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -105 | 158.5 -110o / -110u | +135 |
| Texas Tech Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -115 | 158.5 -110o / -110u | -160 |
- BYU vs Texas Tech spread: Texas Tech -2.5
- BYU vs Texas Tech over/under: 158.5 points
- BYU vs Texas Tech moneyline: BYU +135, Texas Tech -160
BYU vs Texas Tech College Basketball Betting Preview
BYU Basketball
Kevin Young has officially put the BYU basketball program on the map following a Sweet 16 experience in his first season at the helm.
Prior to taking the BYU job in 2024, Young had a long tenure working in the NBA, particularly as an associate head coach for the Phoenix Suns.
Young brought an NBA philosophy along with him to Provo, and the University followed suit, dumping a ton of money into the basketball facilities.
With guard Egor Demin’s departure to the NBA, the Cougars wasted no time landing the No. 1 recruit in the country in 6-foot-8 forward AJ Dybantsa.
The Brockton, MA, native signed an NIL deal upwards of $7 million, and is a lock to be drafted top-three in the 2026 NBA Draft.
The Cougars have started the 2026 season with a bang, winning 16 of their first 17 games, with Dybantsa leading the way, averaging 23.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
BYU enters its Big 12 schedule with high hopes and will face a gauntlet of opponents over the next few weeks, most notably Texas Tech, Houston, Iowa State and Kansas.
Behind a frontcourt that also includes Keba Keita, the Cougars have brute force in the lane on both ends of the floor.
The BYU backcourt is led by the former Baylor Bear Robert Wright III. The 6-foot-1 point guard has also had an extremely strong start to the season, posting 17.2 points per game, along with 5.5 assists and 3.6 rebounds.
BYU enters its Saturday night matchup with Texas Tech ranking eighth in the country in offensive efficiency, according to KenPom.
Texas Tech Basketball
Following a slow start to the season, Texas Tech is in scorching form, winning six of its last seven games.
The Red Raiders pulled off a spectacular upset over Duke, and their only loss over the last two weeks came against one of the best teams in the country, Houston, a true conference road game in which Tech lost by only four points.
The Red Raiders have rallied behind their star forward, JT Toppin, a top-five talent in all of college basketball. Toppin is averaging 21.3 points in addition to 11.1 rebounds per game, and remains in great shape to contend for the 2026 Naismith Award.
Alongside Toppin, guard Christian Anderson is posting just shy of 20 points per game (19.7). Anderson has been extremely efficient operating the Red Raiders' offense, dishing 7.4 assists per contest.
He's one of the best 3-point shooters in college basketball, converting on 43% of his field goal attempts from beyond the arc.
With head coach Grant McCasland at the helm, the Red Raiders were unbelievably close to a Final Four appearance in 2025, blowing a nine-point lead to eventual national champion.
Texas Tech enters Saturday’s contest with BYU ranking just outside the top 15 in the country in offensive efficiency.
However, the typically stout Red Raiders defense has been struggling, ranking 48th in defensive efficiency.
BYU vs. Texas Tech Betting Analysis
While Tech has been lackluster defensively, I expect its offense to continue to dominate on Saturday in its home gym.
BYU is undoubtedly one of the best teams in the entire country, and it's certainly proved that by winning 13 consecutive games. However, I expect this to be a tough test for the BYU defense.
Regression is inevitable in college basketball, and it wouldn't surprise me if it comes for the Cougars on Saturday.
Texas Tech enters this home conference game with a chip on their shoulder, and I feel comfortable playing the Red Raiders to hand BYU its second loss of the season.
My Pick: Texas Tech ML -160
