Cougars vs Bears CBB Basketball Spread/Handicapping
BYU is an under-considered basketball program. Sure they got a lot of attention during the Jimmer era but this is a good program on the whole and their move to the West Coast Conference forces them to play good competition all season long.
BYU Cougars (8-3) vs Baylor Bears (7-3)
Friday December 21
Ferrell Center – Waco, TX
9:00PM
Moneyline: No ML Currently listed at GTBets
Spread: Baylor -7
O/U: 151.5
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BYU
The Cougars put together a nice non-conference slate but are still looking for their first impressive scalp. To date they have lost to the best teams on their schedule.
There aren’t many teams that have a duo of players that average 40ppg but that is what forward Brandon Davies and guard Tyler Haws are putting up there.
Haws is the bigger surprise as he has come back from his Mormon mission and nearly doubled his point production. Davies gives the Cougars an inside presence and continues to get better.
His scoring is up for the third year in a row and he averages 19ppg in less than 30 minutes per game.
To me BYU seems like just the kind of team to give Baylor fits. There is talent there but more importantly there is discipline too. Last year these two teams played a fantastic 86-83 game that Baylor won with vastly better talent.
This year things might be a little more even due to Baylor’s NBA talent drain. [ad-6571516]
Baylor
The Bears beat Kentucky but have lost to Charleston and Northwestern…ohh and they smoked Lehigh who eliminated Duke from the tournament last year to open the season.
It has been an interesting start for Baylor who even with the loss and graduation of key players has a nice mix of talent to compete in the Big 12.
Before beginning conference play they are taking a swing at the WCC with back to back games against BYU and Gonzaga.
Baylor has a fantastic and experienced backcourt of Pierre Jackson, Brady Heslip and A.J. Walton. Each provides something different.
I also like their combination up front of super frosh Isaiah Austin and lean forward Cory Jefferson. Both are 6’9” or bigger, both average 13ppg and both average 8 rebounds per game. They have upside too.
The only thing they lack is a little bit of nastiness but they give this team a chance to compete against teams with quality bigs.
Baylor has had a chunk of unlined games this year and is just a 2-4 ATS record in those that were.
At just -7 I like them Friday night as I think they will win and can outlast the Cougars with their guards leading the way late.
Look for these guys in conference play, they will pull off a few upset wins.
Spread Pick: Baylor -7
O/U Pick: Under
Score Prediction: Baylor 77 – BYU 69
