BYU Cougars vs West Virginia Mountaineers Prediction, Odds and Picks for Today, 02/28/26

With only three games left in the regular season, No. 19 BYU finds itself sitting in seventh place in the Big 12 – a position the Cougars likely didn’t expect to be in, heading into their matchup against West Virginia. BYU is coming off a difficult loss to UCF, where they shot just 40.8% from the floor while allowing the Knights to shoot an impressive 56.2%. The Cougars are known for their high-powered offense, averaging 84.6 points per game, which puts them 2nd in the Big 12 this season, while hitting 48% of their shots, which ranks third. Despite a horrible offensive performance against a weaker UCF squad, BYU needs to do a better job playing defense and rebounding the ball in this matchup against West Virginia.

The Mountaineers have the worst offense in the Big 12, averaging just 69.5 points per game. While they don’t have the offensive firepower to overwhelm opponents, they make up for it with one of the best defenses in the conference, holding teams to just 64.5 points per game. West Virginia does an excellent job at protecting the paint, which could make it difficult for AJ Dybantsa and the rest of BYU’s offense to attack the rim. That defensive pressure could force the Cougars to settle for tougher mid-range shots and perimeter looks. However, BYU has already proven it can score against elite defenses. The Cougars defeated Iowa State – the third-best defense in the Big 12 – on January 21st while shooting 50% from the floor. The last time West Virginia faced an explosive offense like BYU’s, things didn’t go well. The Mountaineers lost by 35 points to Arizona and also fell to Oklahoma State, one of the top offenses in the conference. The Cougars will have their work cut out for them, but even on the road, they have the offensive talent to run away in this matchup against West Virginia. 

BYU vs West Virginia prediction: BYU -2 (-115) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.