College Hoops ADDITIONAL Best Bet (2/4/25)
Author: Dylan Lieck | February 4, 2025 | 5:32 P.M. CST
UPDATE: I posted earlier with ONE best bet and some additional OPINIONS, however I’ve decided to add a second best bet. No games have started, as it’s currently before 6:00 P.M. and this game does not tip until 9:00 P.M. Below is my SECOND pick, however if you just clicked on this, don’t forget to READ the NEXT blog post as well, as that has my first pick for tonight. Thanks and best of luck!!
Best Bet #2 Tonight: BYU -2 vs. Arizona
This will be an abbreviated summary, as I am posting this late. However, we are going to back the MORMONS tonight; a little ‘Mormon’s After Dark’ or ‘Mormon Magic’ for you tonight. BYU has been playing some really good basketball lately. They are actually one of the most improved teams in the country from what I’ve seen. Early in the year they were working in some new young pieces, along with a completely new coaching staff, and they STRUGGLED. I watched them play at Providence around their 10th game of the year, and it was one of the ugliest games I’ve seen a team play in a long time. Their star European 19-year old was HORRIBLE in that game, and I watched wondering if this BYU team would even be a tournament team this season.
They finished out their non-conference schedule winning the rest of their games against significantly inferior opponents, and then when conference play started they STRUGGLED. They were 1-3 through their first 4 conference games, and 2-4 through 6 outings. Their two wins in that span came against 2 of the 4 worst teams in the conference as well, in Oklahoma State and Arizona State. However, things changed after that. The Cougars started playing much better basketball, and it began to show up on the court. Since that 2-4 start to conference play, they’ve rattled off 4 consecutive wins, and not just against bad teams either. During that stretch, they killed Cincinnati and Colorado (not impressive), but also beat a very solid Baylor team in a tight game at home, and then went on the road to Central Florida and got an impressive win over the Knights.
Arizona on the other hand has been playing as good as anyone in the Big 12 over the past 10 games. They’re 9-1 in Big 12 play, sitting in a tie for first place in the conference. However, this is a perfect spot for a let down for the Wildcats. Arizona is coming off back-to-back very emotional wins. The first came against Iowa State at home, which was a game that Arizona had no business winning. Iowa State led by 2, shooting 2 FTs with 2.8 seconds remaining. ISU could’ve iced the game with 2 made free throws. Even by just missing the second FT it’s unlikely that Arizona ever gets a decent shot up from 3 quarters court. Instead ISU went 1/2 from the line and MADE the 2nd FT, which allowed Arizona to inbound the ball, down 3. Still, it took a legitimate miracle, as Caleb Love nailed a 55 foot shot at the buzzer to send the game to overtime. He then made his first two threes of overtime to steal the win for Arizona. They followed that up by traveling to their rival, Arizona State, and getting themselves in an absolute DOG FIGHT. They actually trailed late in the game before pulling away in the final few minutes. The end of the game saw Arizona’s Caleb Love get ejected after getting in an altercation with an ASU player (that ASU player head butted Love). Regardless, it was TWO really tough, grinded out, emotional victories. And now they are traveling to Provo to take on the Mormons in a really tough venue. This is a terrible spot for Arizona, playing against a team in BYU that can legitimately match Arizona’s talent.
We’re going to back BYU in this spot, mainly because of that - THE SPOT. BYU is not the better team here, and yet we’re seeing them take money. Try to find something -2 or better. If you can find -130 or better ML take that, as I think this is going to be a close game and at -130 or better it’s worth avoiding the points (BYU is not the best FT shooting team). But it’s playable up to 2.5 (not at 3)
Official Pick: BYU -130 or better
Play Rating: 2-Stars
