Villanova vs. BYU: Expectations and Predictions Unveiled

Kevin Young leads a BYU Cougars team that is full of youth - Wisconsin BYU Picks

The wait is finally over. College basketball is back, and the 2025–26 season tips off with a loaded opening slate that has everything a fan could want, blue bloods, upsets waiting to happen, and statement games right out of the gate. After months of transfer portal chaos, coaching changes, and roster shuffles, we finally get to see who is ready to make noise when it counts.

One matchup that instantly grabbed my attention is Villanova versus No. 8 BYU. Two proud programs, two entirely different trajectories. BYU looks every bit the part of a national contender, while Villanova enters a new era trying to rediscover its identity. It is a perfect early-season clash of styles, tempos, and expectations, and a game that could set the tone for both teams’ seasons.

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2024-25 Season: -14.5 Units

It was a rough year. 2025-26 is a new year! Let us FEAST!

Villanova vs. #8 BYU Odds

Can BYU kickoff the season looking like a national contender?

Odds are courtesy of BetOnline, a longtime fixture among the top online sports betting sites. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then bag a big bonus (100% if your first deposit is with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or another cryptocurrency) to bet on College Basketball games.

Spread

Villanova: +9.5 (-105)

BYU: -9.5 (-115)

Total

Over: 153.5 (-110)

Under: 153.5 (-110)

Moneyline

Villanova: +377

BYU: -490

Villanova vs. #8 BYU Best Bet

Welcome to the start of the 2025–26 college basketball season! Tonight’s slate is loaded with high-level matchups, but the one I have had circled since last week is this one right here: the Villanova Wildcats taking on No. 8 BYU Cougars. Two programs heading in very different directions. The Cougars have legitimate national championship aspirations, while the Wildcats are simply trying to regain relevance in the Big East after another likely middle-of-the-pack finish.

Dangerous Cougars

I have a tremendous amount of respect for BYU head coach Kevin Young. Taking over for Mark Pope, who left for Kentucky, Young kept this team rolling without missing a beat. The Cougars remained deadly from deep, played suffocating defense, and thrived in an up-tempo system. I expect more of the same tonight. While BYU ranks in the upper 100s in pace, not exactly blazing fast, it will still feel like warp speed for a Villanova team that plays at one of the slowest tempos in the country.

The Willard ERA Has Begun

This will be Villanova’s new head coach, Kevin Willard’s, first real test right out of the gate. Can his team contain BYU’s explosive offense? And can his own offense generate enough to hang around against that smothering Cougar defense? It is a tough challenge for a coach still settling in. Even though this is technically a neutral-site game, Las Vegas is a much easier trip for BYU fans than it is for Villanova’s.

I grabbed the Cougars at -7.5 last week, and the number has since climbed to -9.5 on BetOnline. I do not mind BYU winning by double digits, but that spread leaves the door open for a potential backdoor cover. This feels like one of those games that ends with BYU either winning by 20-plus if the shots are falling, or by nine if Villanova sneaks in late. I lean heavily toward a dominant performance from the Cougars. If you prefer not to take the spread, consider BYU’s team total instead. I fully expect them to score often and run wild.

At the end of the day, this is a statement game for BYU and a reality check for Villanova. The Cougars are built to contend right now, experienced, disciplined, and explosive, while the Wildcats are still searching for their footing under a new regime. Expect BYU to dictate the tempo early, force turnovers, and turn this into a track meet Villanova cannot keep up with. Whether you ride the spread or the team total, I see one side with all the momentum, confidence, and firepower. This is BYU’s night to show just how dangerous they can be.