BYU vs. Santa Clara Prediction and Odds (Bet Broncos as Live Home Underdogs)

A high level WCC matchup goes on in California on Thursday night when BYU travels to face Santa Clara.

The Cougars enter 5-1 in conference play with their lone loss coming to Gonzaga, while Santa Clara is looking for some consistency in WCC games, starting 2-2.

Can the Broncos notch a signature victory at home against BYU, or will they continue to remain in the middle of the pack of this underrated conference?

Here are the odds from WynnBET Sportsbook.

Santa Clara vs. BYU Odds, Spread and Total

Spread:

• BYU -3 (-105)
• Santa Clara +3 (-115)

Moneyline:

• BYU -150
• Santa Clara +130

Total: 150 (Over -110/Under -110)

Santa Clara vs. BYU Prediction and Pick

I believe this matchup sets up nicely for Santa Clara at home, who should be able to attack the visitors with their size advantage at guard and on the glass.

BYU has been playing an undersized front court due to injuries and Santa Clara has the best defensive rebounding mark in the conference thus far, per KenPom.

Not to mention, the Broncos have length on the perimeter to check BYU star guard Alex Barcelo, who is hitting on more than 45% of his three-point tries. The likes of PJ Pipes and Jalen Williams can give the Cougars guard fits on the perimeter and force the BYU offense to play from the inside. Santa Clara posts the 32nd lowest three-point rate, a massive boost against a deadly BYU shooting team.

I can't say the same for the other side as Santa Clara is a great passing team and shoots even better than BYU from deep, 27th best in the nation and can work inside and out to attack the undersized Cougars backcourt on the perimeter.

I make this game closer to BYU -1 and see Santa Clara ripe for an upset with the length to throw the BYU offense out of sync.

PLAY: Santa Clara +3, play to +2

All of Reed's college basketball plays can be tracked here, his best bets column for college basketball is 25-31-3 for -7.12 units.