The BYU Cougars will try to pay off for their supporters on Saturday when they play host to the Portland Pilots at Marriott Center in NCAA basketball action.

BYU will face the 10-17 Pilots, who own a 7-15 ATS mark on the season. In totals betting, the Cougars are 8-11-1 favoring the UNDER so far this season while the Pilots are 7-10 favoring the OVER.



View Portland vs BYU Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
The visitors opened as 17.5-point underdogs in this one at most sportsbooks tracked at Odds Shark, including Sportsbook. The total was set to open a bit later (check out Sportsbook for the latest situation(.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Cougars - Pilots odds would favor the Cougars if the lines were set according to our power ranks. BYU is rated No. 56 in the current Odds Shark poll, while Portland is at No. 271. Mathematical models based on recent stats and predictive formulas point to a 78-62 win for the Cougars.



How They Match Up:
Rating these schools in several key categories is important for handicappers and BYU has the nation's No. 10-rated offensive output, at 78 PPG. The visiting Pilots defense ranks No. 197 allowing on average 67.2 PPG. The Cougars FG% has averaged 45.9% so far, more than the Pilots marksmen have achieved on the year, 41.2% per game.

Defensively, Portland features the nation's No. 211-rated defense on the road, allowing 71 points per game. BYU, meanwhile, comes in at No. 11 nationally in scoring at home.

In their last action, Portland was a 78-76 Sportsbook on the road against San Francisco. They covered the 9.5-point spread as underdogs. Kevin Bailey scored 18 points leading the Pilots to a 78-76 victory over San Francisco at War Memorial Gymnasium on Thursday.

BYU was a 99-87 loser in its last match at home against San Francisco. They failed to cover the 14.5-point spread as favorites. The Cougars got 18 points from Brock Zylstra, but it was San Francisco that prevailed in a 99-87 final on Saturday at Marriott Center.


Portland Pilots Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 4-6
Before playing San Diego are 4-6
After playing San Francisco are 4-6
After a win are 2-8

BYU Cougars Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 8-2
Before playing Utah State are 6-4
After playing San Francisco are 5-2
After a loss are 8-2

A few Pilots at Cougars trends to consider:
Portland is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games on the road
Portland is 3-22 SU in its last 25 games on the road
BYU is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Portland
BYU is 18-2 SU in its last 20 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of BYU's last 5 games
BYU is 16-6 SU in its last 22 games


Next up:
Portland home to San Diego, Thursday, February 21
BYU home to Utah State, Tuesday, February 19