Byu Cougars vs Texas Tech Red Raiders Picks and Predictions January 7th 2025

Texas Tech Aims for Back-to-Back Wins in Utah Against BYU

Texas Tech will look to carry the momentum from its dominant win over Utah into Tuesday’s road clash against BYU in Provo. After a 93-65 victory against the Utes on Saturday, the Red Raiders (10-3, 1-1 Big 12) face a tougher challenge in the Cougars (10-3, 1-1), who are riding a 14-game home winning streak.

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BYU Seeks a Bounce-Back Performance

BYU comes into the matchup with plenty of motivation after suffering a lopsided 86-55 loss to then-No. 14 Houston on Saturday. The Cougars struggled against Houston’s intense defensive pressure, shooting just 37.5 percent from the field and getting outrebounded 37-24.

“There’s no way to sugarcoat it. They kicked our butts pretty much in every way,” BYU coach Kevin Young said.

The defeat snapped a four-game winning streak for BYU, each of those victories coming by at least 19 points. To recover, BYU will lean on Richie Saunders, who recently scored a career-high 30 points in a 76-56 win over Arizona State in its Big 12 opener.

Egor Demin, a 6-foot-9 point guard and a projected NBA draft lottery pick, will also play a pivotal role. However, Demin has struggled lately, missing his last 15 3-point attempts, and has been working to regain form after missing three games in December due to a knee contusion.

Texas Tech Turning Up the Heat

The Red Raiders rebounded from a disappointing 87-83 loss to Central Florida in their Big 12 opener with a statement win over Utah. JT Toppin led the charge in both games, averaging 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks across the contests. Toppin, a projected first-round NBA draft pick, has been the cornerstone of Texas Tech’s offense and defense, averaging 18.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game.

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Against Utah, Darrion Williams shined with 19 points and nine assists, while Elijah Hawkins contributed four 3-pointers and eight assists. Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland praised his team’s defensive improvement after calling their showing against Central Florida “one of the worst defensive games we’ve played, maybe since I’ve been coaching in Division I.”

“We’ve got great offensive players,” McCasland said. “We’re growing as a team defensively.”

Key Matchup: Home Dominance vs. Road Momentum

BYU’s 14-game home winning streak will be tested against a Red Raiders squad riding high after an emphatic win. The matchup could come down to whether BYU can bounce back offensively and if Texas Tech can maintain its defensive intensity.

Both teams feature standout NBA prospects in Demin and Toppin, setting the stage for a marquee individual showdown. If either player can find an edge, their team will likely emerge victorious in this pivotal Big 12 clash.