4* on Santa Clara +

Santa Clara vs. BYU, 02/02/2013 21:00 EDT, Score: 79 - 96

Point Spread: +6/-110 Santa Clara

Sportsbook: JustBet.cx

Result: Loss

4* on Santa Clara +



Santa Clara is a very under-rated team and I like them today to keep this game close against BYU in Provo. Santa Clara will definitely have revenge on their minds as the Cougars went on the road earlier this year and beat the Broncos on their home floor by 18 points. In that game BYU shots 53.6% from the floor and 50% from 3-point range while hitting 72.7% of their free throws. Santa Clara on the other hand made only 38.5% of their shots, 31.8% of their 3's and 46.7% of their free throws. On the year the Broncos are the BETTER shooting team than the Cougar so when those numbers regress towards the mean, it means these two teams are a lot more comparable than it appeared the first time they met.



Santa Clara is also the hotter team. They have won five in a row and have shot 48% or better in four of those five games. Both of these teams are on short rest as each played Thursday. However, I think Santa Clara probably snuck some extra practice time in preparing for this game as they had Portland Thursday, a team they beat by 24 points. BYU was on the road and lost to Pepperdine, a team they were favored to beat by double digits. You want to take road teams revering a home loss against an opponent playing on one or less days of rest. These teams are 337-235 (59%) the last five years.