The Texas Tech Red Raiders and the BYU Cougars continue Big 12 Conference men’s basketball action on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Waco, Texas.
Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. central on ESPN+. The Red Raiders (10-3, 1-1 in Big 12) and the Cougars (10-3, 1-1 in Big 12) are both currently unranked.
Texas Tech is fresh off of a game in which they blew out BYU’s in-state rival Utah, 93-65. The Cougars, however, are no stranger to blowouts as they lost a brutal contest to Kelvin Sampson and the Houston Cougars 86-55.
Related: Five Biggest Takeaways From Saturday’s Big 12 Men’s Basketball Games
Here is a preview of Tuesday’s game.
How to Watch Texas Tech vs. BYU
Date: Tuesday, January 7, 2025
Time: 8 p.m. CT
TV Channel: ESPN+
Site: Marriott Center, Provo, Utah
Texas Tech vs. BYU Betting Odds, Lines
Opening Line: BYU -2
Current Line: BYU -2
Over/Under: 148
Texas Tech vs. BYU Predictions
Since returning from injury, Texas Tech’s star forward JT Toppin has been unstoppable in conference play. The Texas native is currently averaging a double-double with 18.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. He suffered a lower-body injury earlier in the season that resulted in him missing four games. Since then, Toppin has been the best player on Grant McCasland’s squad.
Behind Toppin, the Red Raiders feature numerous stars, including Darrion Williams, Chance McMillan, and Kevin Overton. Williams and McMillan elected to return to McCasland’s squad in 2024-25, while Overton transferred in from Drake. The trio is currently averaging 42.6 points per game and has been playing at an All-Big 12 level this year.
On the other hand, BYU has been a bit of a mixed bag. The team holds a 1-1 record in league play with a 20-point win over Arizona State and a 31-point loss to No. 14 Houston. The Cougars are led by first-year head coach Kevin Young, who left his post in the NBA to revamp BYU basketball.
His squad features nearly five athletes scoring in double figures, including Richie Saunders, Egor Demin, Kanon Catchings, Trevin Knell, and Fousseyni Traore. Their stars have been impressive this year, but the team is still learning to merge together in-game action.
Texas Tech 91, BYU 84
ESPN Matchup Predictor: BYU (53.6% Chance of Winning)
DRatings: BYU 77, Texas Tech 74
