Arizona Wildcats vs BYU Cougars Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 09/12/2026

Game Time: 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, September 12, 2026

Venue:  LaVell Edwards Stadium (LES), Provo, UT

Where to Watch:  FOX

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Arizona +7.5, BYU -7.5; Over/Under:  48.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Arizona +7.5, BYU -7.5; Over/Under:  48.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Arizona +7.5, BYU -7.5; Over/Under:  48.5 points

Arizona Wildcats:  1-0 (0-0) (1st place, Big 12)

BYU Cougars:  1-0 (0-0) (1st place, Big 12)

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Arizona Wildcats:  won their last game at home against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks 35-7.

BYU Cougars:  won their last game at home against the Utah Tech Trailblazers 63-7.

Arizona is entering this game with a 1-0 record overall and they have a 0-0 record in their conference games too. They are 1-0 in their home games, 0-0 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be on the road for this game. They won their last game against Northern Arizona 35-7. Noah Fifita was the starting QB and he completed 22/29 passes for 262 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Kedrick Reescano led the team in rushing yards with 48 and 2 TDs. Gio Richardson led the receivers with 96 receiving yards on 8 receptions. Taye Brown led the defense in that game with 11 tackles while Chase Kennedy led the defense in sacks with 2.5. Quinn Olson came away with the only interception for them in that one.

 

 

 

BYU is entering this game with a 1-0 record overall and they have a 0-0 record in their conference games too. They are 1-0 in their home games, 0-0 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be at home for this game. They won their last game against Utah Tech 63-7. Bear Bachmeier was the starting QB and he completed 16/20 passes for 198 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Devaughn Eka led the team in rushing yards with 59 and 1 TD. Legend Glasker led the receivers with 65 receiving yards on 3 receptions and 2 TDs. Jarinn Kalama led the defense in that game with 5 tackles while Siale Esera led the defense in sacks with 1. Matthias Leach, Evan Johnson, and Therrian Alexander each came away with 1 interception for them in that one.

The current betting odds have BYU listed as a 7.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. BYU has a 1-0 record overall this season and they destroyed a team from the FCS in their season opener. They beat Utah Tech 63-7 and even though they weren't really challenged in that one, they still treated Utah Tech the same way a top program in the nation would. BYU missed the CFP last season, but they have been one of the best teams in the Big 12 over the last few years and they look like they are going to once again be a big threat in this conference. They are returning thir starting QB who is coming off a great season and they also picked up some really good talent to surround him with. They have had a great defense under Sitake for years and that isn't going to change this season, but now they have a really good offense that is going to take a big step to be more consistent this year. Meanwhile, Arizona has a 1-0 record overall this season and they also beat up on a team from the FCS in their season opener. They are coming off a 35-7 win over Northern Arizona, but they didn't look great in that one. The defense looked great as they didn't let NAU do much on offense and they were never really at risk of losing that game, but the offense didn't look great. They only put up 35 points against a lesser opponent and their offense got off to a really slow start too. They are going to have a lot more trouble moving the ball here against this better BYU defense on the road. Arizona did look good on defense themselves, but that defense wasn't really challenged either and this is a great opportunity for BYU to make a statement at home and show that they are still one of the teams to beat in the Big 12 this year. The best way to place a bet here is on BYU to cover the spread in this game. 

Arizona BYU Prediction:  Our NCAAF Pick for Saturday, September 12, 2026 (3:30 pm ET start time) is BYU 31 Arizona 14.

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Arizona Wildcats: 3-8 ATS as an underdog. 4-9 ATS after playing a game at home. 2-5 ATS after allowing 14 points or less last game. 10-3 UNDER after 1 or more consecutive straight up wins. 6-3 UNDER off a home win.

BYU Cougars: 19-9 ATS in all lined games. 12-6 ATS as a favorite. 9-4 ATS in home lined games. 7-1 ATS after allowing 14 points or less last game. 8-4 UNDER when the total is between 49.5 and 56. 7-2 UNDER after a win by 17 or more points.

Arizona Wildcats:  S. Brennan (WR) Questionable - Undisclosed. C. Warren III (RB) Questionable - Undisclosed.

BYU Cougars:  S. Moa (RB) Questionable - Undisclosed. R. Damuni (S) Out - Lower Body.

"I didn't feel like the crowd was a problem in [2024], I felt like we didn't play very well. You know what I mean. We turned the ball over too many times. I think that's a very separate issue. They have a great crowd though. That part of it I respect and we know that going in there. That's one of those things, if you let that be an excuse, it will be." - Brent Brennan on his team’s upcoming game against BYU this week.

“All three phases (were) clicking. Did some good things.” - Kalani Sitake after his team’s win against Utah Tech in their last game. 

WR Spivey, Tré

WR Hunter III, Chris

WR Richardson, Giovanni

TE Rusk, Cole

QB Fifita, Noah

RB Mahdi, Ismail

WR Kasper, Kyler

WR Phillips, Jojo

WR Glasker, Legend

TE Lyons, Walker

QB Bachmeier, Bear 

RB Martin, LJ

Passing: Noah Fifita (279)

Rushing: Kedrick Reescano (48)

Receiving: Giovanni Richardson (113)

Touchdowns: Kedrick Reescano (2)

Passing: Bear Bachmeier (198)

Rushing: Devaughn Eka (59)

Receiving: Legend Glasker (65)

Touchdowns: Legend Glasker (3)

Coaches:

Arizona Wildcats: Brent Brennan (3rd season)

BYU Cougars: Kalani Sitake (11th season)