The Arizona Wildcats (1-0) and No. 15 BYU Cougars (1-0) square off in a Big 12 matchup Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET (FOX). Let's analyze college football odds around the Arizona at BYU odds and make our expert college football picks and predictions for the best bets.
Arizona, which won 9 games a season ago, crushed the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks 35-7 (Under 59.5) in their opener last Saturday, but failed to cover the -33.5-point spread. QB Noah Fifita was 22 for 29 for 262 yards and 2 TDs, while RB Kedrick Reescano rushed 10 times for 48 yards and 2 TDs. The Wildcats defense dominated, holding NAU to 193 total yards, including -7 yards rushing. LB Chase Kennedy had 2.5 of Arizona's
5 sacks. NAU's lone TD came on a pick-6 of Arizona backup QB Sawyer Anderson.
BYU also had an easy go of it in their season opener, dominating the Utah Tech Trailblazers 63-7 (Over 61.5) and covering the -50.5-point spread. QB Bear Bachmeier was 16 of 20 for 198 yards and 3 TDs, while WR Legend Glasker hauled in 3 passes for 65 yards and 2 TDs and also ran for score, the first receiver to score 3 TDs in a game for BYU since Puka Nacua in 2022. The Cougars rushed for 308 yards with 11 different players making a rushing attempt against the overmatched Trailblazers. The BYU defense held Utah Tech to 184 total yards and forced 4 turnovers. CB Cannon Devries also returned the opening kickoff of the second half 100 yards for a score.
BYU leads the all-time series 14-12-1, and is on a 5-game winning streak stretching from 2016 through 2025 (a 33-27 double-overtime win in Tucson, Arizona.
– Rankings: US LBM Coaches Poll, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports
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Arizona at BYU odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 12:01 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Arizona +240 (bet $100 to win $230) | BYU -295 (bet $285 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Arizona +7.5 (-110) | BYU -7.5 (-108)
- Over/Under (O/U): 48.5 (O: -105 | U: -112)
Arizona at BYU picks and predictions
Prediction
BYU 27, Arizona 20
Moneyline
PASS.
BYU has won the past 5 meeting, but the vig is too much for me in what I expect to be a close game.
Against the spread
BET ARIZONA +7.5 (-110).
Both teams took care of business against overmatched opponents in their opener, though it should be noted that Northern Arizona came into the game at Arizona as the No. 22 team in the FCS rankings, while Utah Tech already had a 54-0 loss to Montana State on their 2026 resume.
BYU mauled Arizona 41-19 when they met in Provo in 2024, but needed double OT to edge Arizona 33-27 last season. I think this season's matchup resembles the tight 2025 game more than the 2024 blowout. BYU was picked to finish second to Texas Tech in the unofficial Big 12 media poll held by each team's beat writers, while Arizona was picked to finished third.
Over/Under
BET UNDER 48.5 (-112).
This line opened at 51.5 at some books, so if you were one of the lucky ones who jumped on the Under early, good for you. It went to 48.5 at most books and I'm not as comfortable with the Under at that number as it's right at my projected score. But I'd consider it now at 48.5, but not as in love with it as I was before the total adjusted.
Defense is expected to be a strength of both teams and started impressively to open the 2026 season, albeit against FCS competition. Arizona ranked second in the Big 12 and 19th nationally in total defense in 2025, though they are trying to fill some losses in the secondary. BYU returns 8 starters from last year's defense that ranked third in the Big 12 in total defense, but has a new defensive coordinator in Kelly Poppinga, who was elevated from special teams coordinator and defensive ends coach after Jay Hill left to run Michigan's defense.
While 60 points were put up in each of the matchups between the teams the previous 2 seasons, I'm expecting a lower scoring affair this time around.
Best Prop Bet
BET BYU WR LEGEND GLASKER +50 RECEIVING YARDS (+125)
Glasker was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week after his 3 TD performance vs. Utah Tech. While the competition grows much stiffer this week, Glasker is expected to continue to play a signifcant role in the BYU offense.
Betting odds calculator
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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Arizona Wildcats at BYU Cougars odds, picks and predictions
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