NCAA First Round: Texas vs BYU Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 19)
- The Longhorns got past NC State in the First Four round.
- AJ Dybantsa looks to lead the Cougars on a deep tournament run this year.
- This marks the eighth all-time matchup between these two squads.
Another contest in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament will take place on March 19 with the SEC’s Texas Longhorns facing the Big 12’s BYU Cougars. The latter comes out as the slight favorite, presenting a tough matchup between two Power Five teams fighting for a place in the Round of 32.
How to Watch
- When: Thursday, March 19, 7:25 pm ET
- Where: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
- How to Watch: TBS
NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | -105 | +2.5 | O158 |
| BYU | -115 | -2.5 | U158 |
Game Preview
The Longhorns (19-14) make their way to the Round of 64 after taking down NC State in the First Four round. Tramon Mark posted a team-high 17 points while shooing 7-of-14 from the field and adding five rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks. He hit a game-winning jumper from the right wing with 1.1 seconds left to lift Texas past the Wolf Pack. Meanwhile, Chendall Weaver registered his first career double-double with 11 points (3-5 FG, 5-6 FT) and a career-high-tying 10 rebounds, while Matas Vokietaitis registered 15 points and eight rebounds.
The Cougars (23-11) had a solid run in the Big 12 Tournament, falling to an elite Houston squad despite their best efforts. They enter the NCAA Tournament fourth in the Big 12 and 41st in the nation with 4.4 rejections per game. Keba Keita is the leader of the block party as the senior has accounted for more than 33 percent of the blocks this season. Meanwhile, AJ Dybantsa is moving closer to passing Devin Durrant for third on BYU’s all-time single scoring list as the star freshman has scored 859 points in 34 games, eight away from passing Durran.
Texas vs BYU Head-to-Head
The two programs have had seven meetings in their history, and the result is 5-2 for the Cougars. The last matchup was in November 2025 when Texas won 102-97 in Maui, Hawai’i.
Texas vs BYU Predictions
The winner of this matchup will take on the victors between the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the Kennesaw State Owls. Texas has the talent to keep up with BYU’s attack, who are shorthanded with Richie Saunders being unavailable for the tournament. However, they will have a lot of trouble dealing with AJ Dybantsa, who looks to continue his incredible freshman campaign. Our betting pick here is the Cougars to cover a 2.5-point spread.
- Free NCAAB pick:Â BYU Cougars -2.5
