Omaha Mavericks vs BYU Cougars Prediction, Odds, Best Bets - Week 1

BYU just dropped 94 points on Ohio State behind a 33-point night from Robert Wright III. Omaha brings its own confident, guard-driven attack into a loud Marriott Center.

The Matchup

Omaha comes to Provo at 1-0 after a 73-65 win over Mid America Christian, and the Mavericks were led by their backcourt. Cahmai Crosby scored 21 points with 4 made threes, Jonny Jordan Jr. added 13, and Deke Thompson scored 13 with 4 assists. Omaha does not have BYU's size or depth, but it has guards who can create their own shots, and that is the profile that tends to hang around in games like this.

BYU, ranked No. 25 in the AP poll, opened with a statement, beating Ohio State 94-83. Robert Wright III was the best player on the floor, scoring 33 points with 5 assists on 9-of-15 shooting and 4-of-5 from three. Tyler Betsey added 15 points and 7 rebounds, and Collin Chandler scored 15 more. The Cougars can score in waves, and at home they usually do.

BYU averaged 83.5 points per game last season while allowing 75.4, and its opener suggests the offense traveled into this year intact. Omaha averaged 76.0 points and allowed 76.4 last season, a team that played opponents close far more often than it got blown out. The gap between these teams is real. Whether it is a thirty-point gap is the whole question.

Key Factors

Wright III is the first factor, and he cuts both ways. A guard coming off a 33-point game against Ohio State can wreck any defensive plan, and if he plays at that level again Omaha has no answer for him. But BYU's opener also showed a crack worth noting: the Cougars gave up 83 points to Ohio State. Omaha's guards, Crosby in particular after his 21-point opener, will get chances to score, and a visiting team that keeps scoring does not get buried by thirty.

The second factor is pace and shot volume. The total sits at 160.5 because both teams want to play fast and shoot threes. A high-possession game gives Omaha more trips to chip away at runs, and Crosby, Jordan Jr. and Thompson combined for 47 points in the opener with the ball in their hands constantly.

The counterpoint is straightforward. BYU at home, with a ranked roster and a crowd that smells a blowout, has turned games like this into routs before, and Omaha's opener came against a far weaker opponent than Ohio State. If BYU's defense tightens the way its talent says it should and Wright III stays hot, the Mavericks could be chasing the game by halftime. The cover asks Omaha to keep its composure and its scoring for forty minutes, which its guard play gives it a genuine chance to do.

Every pick is published with its line before the game. Odds via consensus sportsbooks at time of writing and move constantly. Must be 21+. If gambling is a problem, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.