How to watch
Channel: ESPN2 I Fubo TV
Date: Saturday, February 10
Game time: 9:00 p.m. CT
Radio: K-State Sports Network
Venue: Marriott Center
All-time series
- Kansas State leads the all-time series 4-3 over BYU
- The last time Kansas State and BYU played each other was in 2010
- Neither team has had a winning streak over the other
- Kansas State has never played BYU at home
Odds
In what will be just the eighth-ever matchup between these two teams, BYU is heavily favored in the first-ever matchup where both teams are a part of the Big 12. The Cougars are a 10.5-point favorite at home with the over/under being set at 140.5.
This line does surprise me with the Wildcats big win over No. 4 Kansas Monday night. BYU is at home, but they have a worse conference record than the Wildcats. Both BYU and Kansas State have had up and down seasons and the four-game losing streak hurt the Wildcats NCAA Tournament odds. I would have expected a closer line, but BYU is 12-2 at home this season and Kansas is 1-4 on the road in the conference.
I am going to take the under on this one. While BYU has a good offense, ranked No. 2 in the Big 12, I think Kansas State's defense will stifle them throughout the game.
Key matchups
Tylor Perry was virtually unstoppable against Kansas. He dropped 26 points against the Jayhawks and led the team with four assists. I think Perry is someone BYU will zero in on for this game, but the bad news for the Cougars is that even if you take away Perry, there is still Cam Carter and Arthur Kaluma to worry about.
As I said earlier, BYU has the No. 2 defense in the conference with shooters that can not down shots both in the paint and beyond the arc. The Cougars force teams to defend the entire half-court. I think the biggest person the Wildcats will have to worry about is junior center Aly Khalifa. He is dominant in the paint but also forced defenders to stretch the floor by knocking down shots beyond the arc.
This will be an interesting matchup of the big men on both teams. Kansas State will definitely have to feel their fouls and turnovers under control in this game because BYU will capitalize on them more than Kansas did.
Prediction
Even though BYU is heavily favored in this matchup, Kansas State had two extra days to prepare for this matchup with the game on Monday. I think this will be a closer game than most believe it will be. I think Kaluma and David N'Guessan will be crucial in the paint for the Wildcats.
I want to pick the Wildcats and my gut is telling me to take them. I can also see how BYU could run away with this one with how they play offense. I am going to go with my gut on this one and pick the upset by Kansas State. The Wildcats surprised me on Monday with the win over Kansas when I thought they had no shot in taking that one and I am not going to make that mistake again.
I'm picking Kansas State in a close one where free throws will matter. BYU might have the better team free throw percentage, but I think the Wildcats will get to the line enough times and make those shots in important moments of the game.