The Eastern Washington Eagles take on the BYU Cougars in Provo, Utah. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
BYU favored by -35.5 points on the spread and the total is set at 161.5 points on Fanatics Markets.
Here’s my Eastern Washington vs. BYU predictions and college basketball picks for December 22, 2025.
Eastern Washington vs BYU Prediction
My Pick: BYU -35.5 (Play to -37)
My Eastern Washington vs BYU best bet is on the Cougars to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Eastern Washington vs. BYU Odds
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Eastern Washington vs BYU College Basketball Betting Preview
Eastern Washington Basketball
Eastern Washington is off to another rough season under veteran head coach Dan Monson. The Eagles are 2-10 and just got dealt a 24-point drubbing by a mediocre Utah squad.
They managed to keep things close against UCLA on opening night, losing by six, and also lost in overtime to Colorado. Eastern Washington appears to be in a much worse form than it was just six weeks ago when those games took place.
Defense is a huge problem for the Eagles, as they rank 333rd in defensive efficiency.
They also rank 361st in effective field goal percentage, 357th in 3-point defense and 343rd in 2-point defense.
Containing speedy, talented guards has been a pretty troubling trend in Cheney. Just last week, Utah star Terrence Brown scored 20 and Don McHenry scored 27. A few games prior, Cal Baptist star Dom Daniels Jr. scored 34.
Good luck to Eastern Washington holding down all the quick ball-handlers on BYU's roster.
Scoring could also be a bit of a struggle for the Eagles. They rank 168th in offensive efficiency, but I don't think it's enough to atone for their defensive woes in this matchup.
Isaiah Moses is the go-to guy for Eastern Washington. The former UC Riverside guard is small, but wired to score, pouring in 17 points per game on an efficient 47% shooting and 37% from deep.
In his last game against Utah, Moses scored six points on 2-for-11 shooting. He'll need to score 20+ for Eastern Washington to have a shot to cover.
Outside of Moses, I don't know where the scoring is coming from. The next two leading scorers are forwards Kiree Huie and Alton Hamilton IV. Both the bigs played well against Utah, but playing BYU is a whole different ballgame.
BYU Basketball
BYU has one of the more explosive offenses in the country. Kevin Young bringing an NBA style to Provo has totally changed the program. The Cougars have upped the pace this year (89th in adjusted tempo), and they sit at 10th in offensive efficiency.
I'd make an argument that BYU has the best trio of scorers in America in AJ Dybantsa, Richie Saunders and Rob Wright III.
Freshman phenom Dybantsa is as advertised and then some. The potential No. 1 overall NBA draft pick has fully uncovered what it means to be aggressive. The 6-foot-7 wing scored 22+ points in five straight games, and he's flashed his passing, dishing four-plus assists in four of five games.
Eastern Washington doesn't have anyone who can defend the speed and size of Dybantsa. Hamilton might have the size, but he'll get destroyed in one-on-one situations with Dybantsa's quickness. So, I'd expect a fair amount of doubles, allowing the stud freshman to show off his passing.
Speaking of size, BYU should have Keba Keita back. The do-everything defender for BYU missed the Abilene Christian game due to illness. It's been a week, so I'd guess he's back.
He should shut down Eastern Washington from scoring anything at the hoop. Not only can Keita affect the opposing bigs, but he's also nimble and can switch onto guards, like Moses.
BYU also ranks 16th in defensive efficiency. Keita plays a large role in the Cougs' defense DNA, but Dybantsa is a dynamic defender as well. Plus, Kennard Davis Jr. is one of the better perimeter defenders in the Big 12.
The length and athleticism of BYU make it a terrific defensive squad.
Eastern Washington vs. BYU Betting Analysis
I'd be stunned if this game isn't a blowout. The Cougars just beat Pacific and UC Riverside by more than 36, so winning games by a big margin is nothing new.
I can't picture BYU scoring less than 100 here. So, if BYU scores, let's say 100 points, can Eastern Washington score 64? I don't think so. The Eagles won't be able to score inside on BYU, and Moses will have to carry the scoring.
My Pick: BYU -35.5 (Play to -37)
