The stage is set for a compelling Thanksgiving Day matchup in college basketball as the BYU Cougars (4-1) face off against the Miami Hurricanes (5-1) on Thursday. This game is part of the ESPN Events Invitational from Orlando. While it is a neutral-site game, Miami is playing close to home and could have the benefit of the crowd's support here. Before tip-off from the Sunshine State, continue reading to get my BYU vs Miami prediction for Turkey Day.
Our BYU vs Miami Pick
- Pick: Miami +9.5
- Confidence: ★★★☆☆
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Game Snapshot
- Matchup: BYU Cougars vs Miami Hurricanes
- Date & Time: Thursday, November 27, 2025, 5:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: State Farm Field House, Orlando, Florida
- Broadcast: ESPN
Key Storylines
- Offense vs. defense: Miami’s offense is shooting 53% from the field and is averaging 92.2 points per game. BYU is allowing under 70 points per game despite playing UConn, Villanova, and Wisconsin already this year. That means we should be in for a very interesting matchups between these teams that do different things well.
- Star power for BYU: For the Cougars, guard Richie Saunders is leading the team with 20.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Freshman forward AJ Dybantsa brings another 19.8 points to the table, providing a potent one-two punch for the Cougars. Miami will have to figure out how to slow them down.
- Tempo conflict: Miami thrives in a fast-paced environment and has scored 92.2 points per game. BYU plays a more methodical style and will try to slow things down somewhat to get Miami out of their element in this contest.
- Neutral-site situation: The crowd support in this game will be interesting to keep an eye on in Orlando. One would think that Miami would have more fans in the building than BYU given the geography involved. But this game is also happening on a holiday, so we could see an empty gym.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- This will be just the fifth meeting between the two programs and the first since 1989, with the all-time series currently tied at 2–2.
- Both of these teams are 3-2 against the spread early in the season.
- Miami has gone over the total in four of their first five games.
- The under has cashed in three of BYU's first five outings.
BYU vs Miami Model Projection
Score Projection: BYU 86 – Miami 80
Win Probability: BYU 68%, Miami 32%
Final Thoughts
This game looks like it will be a stylistic clash. Miami will push pace and look to score in transition, but BYU has the ability to slow things down and still execute at a high level offensively. The Cougars should win the game outright, but Miami will cover the spread, especially if they can get some of their fans to make the trip north on Thanksgiving to make some noise for them.
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