The No. 14 BYU Cougars look to continue a storybook 2024 season as they host new Big 12 rivals, the Arizona Wildcats, on Saturday afternoon. BYU (5-0) had a bye in Week 6 after a 34-28 road win at Baylor the previous Saturday. Arizona (3-2), on the heels of a win at No. 10 Utah, fell at home to Texas Tech, 28-22. This is the first meeting between the teams since a 24-16 Cougars win in Las Vegas in 2021. BYU is 5-0 against the spread this season, while Arizona is 1-4 ATS in 2024.
Kickoff from LaVell Edwards Stadium is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET. The Cougars are 3-point favorites in the latest BYU vs. Arizona odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 48.5. Before making any Arizona vs. BYU picks, be sure to check out the college football predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its inception, it has generated a profit of well over $2,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college spread football picks since inception, and is 8-4 on top-rated picks over the past two weeks of this season. Anyone who has followed it has seen strong returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Arizona vs. BYU and has locked in its picks and CFB predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the college football odds for the spread, money line and over/under for the BYU vs. Arizona game:
- BYU vs. Arizona spread: BYU -3
- BYU vs. Arizona over/under: 48.5 points
- BYU vs. Arizona money line: BYU -159, Arizona +132
- BYU vs. Arizona picks: See picks at SportsLine
- BYU vs. Arizona streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)
Why Arizona can cover
Arizona's 2024 football season can only be described as a roller coaster. On a given week, the Wildcats can look like a top-25 team or a far cry from that. Against Texas Tech in the team's loss last week, quarterback Noah Fifita completed 28 of 49 passes for 301 yards and two interceptions. The Wildcats only scored one touchdown despite seven Red Zone attempts. Star wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan had eight catches for 161 yards in the defeat.
Fifita, however, is 8-1 as a starter over the last two years against ranked teams. BYU also has quite the day / night splits in terms of success. Since 2019, vs. FBS teams, BYU is 28-3 in total darkness vs. 5-14 in full day games with sunlight. The forecast looks promising for the Wildcats in Provo on Saturday, which adds to the angle of betting Arizona to keep the game close or pull the upset. See which team to pick here.
Why BYU can cover
The Cougars are one of the most surprising stories in college football this season, in part due to great quarterback play from Jake Retzlaff. The junior has thrown for 1,208 yards and 12 scores against five interceptions. BYU's offensive line is also succeeding from the standpoint of not allowing negative plays. Retzlaff has only been sacked five times, among the fewest in the nation for QBs.
Surprisingly, BYU's quarterback is the only Cougars player with more than 100 rushing yards (156) this season. Top running back LJ Martin has been out since suffering an injury in Week 2 but should be healthy this week after the team's bye week to face Arizona. Wide receivers Chase Roberts (21-336-2) and Darius Lassiter (16-235-3) lead the Cougars in output and should be a threat against an Arizona secondary missing two key safeties. See which team to pick here.
How to make Arizona vs. BYU picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 63 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Arizona vs. BYU, and which side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced computer model that's up well over $2,000 on its college football picks since inception, and find out.