BYU Cougars vs. Oregon Ducks Picks, Predictions, Odds

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

Nov. 16, 2021

David Schwab
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

Late night college basketball bettors can turn to ESPN this Tuesday for an interesting West Coast matchup between the West Coast Conference’s BYU Cougars and the Pac-12’s No. 13 Oregon Ducks. Game time from the Moda Center in Portland is set for 10 p.m. (ET) as part of the Phil Knight Invitational.

Score Prediction

Oregon 82, BYU 71

Best Bets

Oregon -4.5

BYU Cougars vs. Oregon Ducks Predictions

The Cougars are off to a straight-up 2-0 start while splitting the games against the spread. The two things that standout the most is the consistency in both points scored and points allowed. Tuesday will be a major step up in class for a team that may be a bit out of its league.

Oregon has the second-best odds (+2500) off any Pac-12 team to win this year’s national title behind UCLA as a +900 second-favorite. The Ducks have successfully navigated their way to a SU 2-0 start with a 1-1 record ATS. They also scored high marks for consistent scoring coupled with consistent defense.

I have to go with the ranked team in Tuesday night’s clash both SU and ATS. The primary reason is Oregon’s ability to put quite a few points on the board while still playing solid defense. The Cougars’ defense is a strong suit as well. However, I do not see them keeping pace on the scoreboard.

BYU Cougars vs. Oregon Ducks Betting Odds

More Odds | Futures Odds

BYU Cougars vs. Oregon Ducks Betting Resources

• Matchup: WCC vs. Pac-12
• Date: Tuesday, November 16, 2021
• Venue: Moda Center
• Location: Portland, Oregon
• TV-Time: ESPN - 10:00 p.m. ET

• Injury Report
• Wooden Award Odds
• Conference Futures Market
• Power Rankings

BYU Cougars Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 2-0
• ATS: 1-1
• O/U: 0-2

BYU won its season opener 69-59 over Cleveland State but it could not cover the closing 14.5- point spread. Last Friday night, the Cougars upended San Diego State 66-60 to cover as three- point favorites. The total stayed UNDER in each game.

Guard Alex Barcello has been the early story for BYU with a combined 41 points in his first two games. He has shot an impressive 68.8% from the field while going a perfect 15-for-15 from the three throw line. Add in a 57.1% shooting percentage from three-point range as part of a complete all-around performance.

The Cougars’ supporting cast is led by guard Te’Jon Lucas and forward Caleb Lohner. Lucas has scored 18 points with a team-high eight assists. Johner is averaging 8.5 rebounds a game. BYU is shooting 41.3% from the field as a team and just 24.3% from beyond the three-point line. The rest of the roster is going to have to step up their game to give Barcello some added support in Tuesday’s matchup.

Oregon Ducks Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 2-0
• ATS: 1-1
• O/U: 1-1

Oregon failed to cover in its season opener by beating Texas Southern 83-66 as a 21-point favorite. Almost matching that same score in an 86-63 victory last Friday against SMU, the Ducks were able to more than cover the closing 7.5-point spread.

The total just stayed UNDER 150 points in the first game and it went OVER 143.5 points in the more recent win. Five different Oregon players have averaged 10 or more points a game in the perfect start as a solid sign of scoring depth.

The hottest hand belongs to guard Will Richardson with a combined 38 points while shooting 54.5% from the field. He has been even more accurate from long range with 61.5% shooting on 13 three-point attempts.

The Ducks are adding an average of 37.5 rebounds to their 84.5 point scoring average. They have shot 45.7% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the three-point line. Spreading the ball around, Oregon has also averaged 12.5 assists per game.

Oregon has won the second half in 13 of its last 14 games when playing on a neutral court. (AP)

Inside the Stats - BYU Cougars

• Record: 2-0
• VI Ranking: 40
• PS/G: 67.5 (260th)
• PA/G: 59.5 (71st)
• ORtg: 103.1 (81st)
• DRtg: 90.8 (145th)

Inside the Stats - Oregon Ducks

• Record: 2-0
• VI Ranking: 11
• PS/G: 84.5 (75th)
• PA/G: 64.5 (130th)
• ORtg: 125.2 (22nd)
• DRtg: 95.6 (194th)

Key Players to Watch

• BYU: Alex Barcello - G (20.5 ppg, 3.5 apg)
• BYU: Te'Jon Lucas - G (9 ppg, 3 rpg, 4 apg)
• OREG: Will Richardson, Jr. - G (19 ppg, 3 rpg)
• OREG: Jacob Young - G (16 ppg, 3 rpg)

BYU Cougars vs. Oregon Ducks Betting Conclusion

BYU should be a solid test for Oregon. Yet, I do not see the Cougars keeping this game close enough to cover. The Ducks have the edge in too many categories, most notably scoring points. Playing at a neutral site is the only slight edge I would give BYU.

These two teams played one another three times between 2011 and 2013 with Oregon holding the 2-1 SU edge and BYU going 2-1 ATS. The total stayed UNDER in two of the three games. In more recent betting trends, BYU has a SU seven-game winning streak in the month of November. The total has stayed UNDER in eight of its last 10 games played on a Tuesday.

Oregon is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games and 14-3 SU in its last 17 contests. The Ducks have won eight of their last 10 games in November SU.

Drawing no solid conclusions from any of these recent trends, I am putting most of the handicapping weight on each team’s current form. BYU looks good, but Oregon looks better enough to bet the Ducks SU and ATS.

BYU Cougars vs. Oregon Ducks Betting Trends

• Oregon has covered the spread in seven of its last 10 games.
• BYU has gone UNDER the point total in eight of its last 10 games played on a Tuesday.The point total has gone UNDER in two of the last three meetings.
• Oregon has won 10 straight games when playing on a Tuesday.

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