The Santa Clara Broncos will try to cover the spread at Leavey Center on Saturday when they get a visit from the BYU Cougars in NCAA basketball action.

The Broncos sit at 12-5 (6-7 ATS) on the season. By comparison, the Cougars are currently 13-4 (8-8 ATS). Looking to wager on the totals? Santa Clara is 6-4 OU, and BYU is 4-6-1 OU.



View BYU vs Santa Clara Odds and Stats.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Broncos sit at No. 86 in the current college hoops power poll here at Odds Shark, while the Cougars sit at No. 29 on the same chart. The computers running our scores simulations have concluded that the Cougars will win this game 85-83.



How They Match Up:
Rating these schools in several key categories is important for handicappers and Santa Clara has the nation's No. 29-rated offensive output, at 78.2 PPG. The visiting Cougars defense ranks No. 196 allowing on average 67.3 PPG. The Broncos FG% has averaged 44.2% so far, less than the Cougars marksmen have achieved on the year, 45.5% per game.

Defensively, BYU features the nation's No. 316-rated defense on the road, allowing 78.7 points per game. Santa Clara, meanwhile, comes in at No. 55 nationally in scoring at home.

BYU was a 76-51 Sportsbook in their most recent outing at home against Pepperdine. They covered the 17.5-point spread as favorites. BYU cruised to victory on Thursday, running Pepperdine out of the gym and running up a 76-51 score at Marriott Center.

Santa Clara lost its last outing, an 84-80 result against Loyola Marymount on January 10. They failed to cover in that game as a 6-point favorite. The Broncos got 21 points from Evan Roquemore, but it was Loyola Marymount that prevailed in an 84-80 final on Thursday at Gersten Pavilion.


BYU Cougars Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 6-4
Before playing St. Mary's are 5-0
After playing Pepperdine are 5-2
After a win are 8-2

Santa Clara Broncos Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 4-6
Before playing San Francisco are 5-5
After playing Loyola Marymount are 5-5
After a loss are 2-8

A few Cougars at Broncos trends to consider:
BYU is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games on the road
BYU is 1-8 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
Santa Clara is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
Santa Clara is 12-5 SU in its last 17 games
Santa Clara is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
Santa Clara is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home


Next up:
BYU home to St. Mary's, Wednesday, January 16
Santa Clara at San Francisco, Thursday, January 17