The California Golden Bears are searching for their first win when they take on the TCU Horned Frogs in their first game at the Emerald Coast Classic. They tip off at 9:30 p.m. ET on Friday at The Arena at Northwest Florida State College for the event’s opening. It helps wind down Feast Week, which provided a great slate of NCAA basketball games today and every day.
Texas Christian (3-1) has not really challenged itself with its schedule and has yet to leave home. Meanwhile, Cal (0-5) has been beaten by some low-major programs and is making an early case to be the worst Power Five program in basketball this season. While it seems like an easy decision between these two NCAA basketball teams, Cal vs. TCU betting is about more than just who will win, so let’s break it down and find the best California vs TCU betting picks.
Last Game Records
Cal lost to Texas State 59-55 last time, despite holding the Bobcats to 34% field goal shooting and 26% from 3-point range. Cal won the rebounding margin but turned it over 13 times and committed 22 fouls; each provided more opportunities for Texas State, which limited its turnovers. That’s how the Golden Bears gifted that game despite shooting 41% from the field and 44% on 3-pointers.
Texas Christian followed up a disappointing loss with a 95-60 victory over Lousiana Monroe to cover a large 15-point spread. The Horned Frogs were ranked in the top 20 early in the year but had fallen out after losing to Northwestern State, so they needed a dominant showing entering this week’s tournament. Emanuel Miller was one of four scorers in double figures with a team-high 16 points.
Matchup Information
This is the first meeting between the two programs.
California Golden Bears vs. Texas Christian Horned Frogs Betting Analysis
TCU Horned Frogs odds show they are favored by 13 points against Cal. The rest of the NCAAB odds show the over/under as 129 points. Cal is +700 on the moneyline, while the TCU Horned Frogs are -1055.
Cal has been favored in four of its games this season, but those making Golden Bears betting picks would be disappointed in going 0-5 against the spread. They also have a 2-3 record on over/under.
Texas Christian is 1-3 against the spread, winning their last contest after having a couple of 35-point spreads that were much closer games in its first two games of the season. The over is 3-1 in TCU games.
California Golden Bears
Cal has the worst offense in college basketball, with the worst points per game mark (60.4 per game) of any Division I school. However, the Golden Bears’ efficiency levels have been better, ranking 295th while converting 41.1% of field goals and ranking 239th at making 32.2% of 3-pointers. They rank 53rd by making 75.8% of their free throw attempts, which should be an encouraging sign of their shots improving.
Defensively they have been much better. They are 145th in holding teams to 67 points per game. Their defensive efficiency is decent, ranking 157th in holding teams to 41.6% on field goal attempts. But they’ve been horrible on the perimeter, allowing teams to convert 38.1% of 3-pointers, which ranks 317th.
They are also 327th in rebounding, only grabbing 29.0 per game, which is also what they allow to rank 90th defensively.
They have a lengthy college basketball injury report: Jarred Hyder (questionable, undisclosed); Dejuan Clayton (questionable, undisclosed); Jack McCloskey (questionable, undisclosed); Josh Ragsdale (questionable, undisclosed); Marsalis Roberson (questionable, leg); and Jalen Celestine (out indefinitely, knee).
Having any number of those players available to help Devin Askew (17.4 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game, 3.6 assists per game) and Lars Thiemann (12.2 ppg, 6.8 RPG) would go a long way in the Golden Bears improving.
Texas Christian Horned Frogs
This game won’t count in the college basketball standings, but it will certainly count against Texas Christian if they were to lose when it comes to evaluating them as an NCAA tournament team.
The Horned Frogs have been solid offensively, scoring 77.0 points per game to rank 118th though the efficiencies must improve. They are 229th at making 43.1% of field goal attempts and a dreadful 351st at 25.5% from behind the 3-point line. They are, however, 92nd with a 73.5% free throw percentage.
Defensively, they have been decent. They rank 117th in holding teams to 65.5 points per game and 64th in efficiency by holding teams to 38.5% from the field. However, they allow teams to convert 34.8% of 3-point attempts, which ranks 248th nationally.
Their 39.0 rebounds per game ranks 25th in the nation, while allowing 30.8 boards per contest ranks them 160th.
Damion Baugh remains out due to suspension, while Mike Miles Jr. is questionable with a wrist injury.
Miles is one of the better college basketball players in the country, averaging 20.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. If he can’t play, that certainly gives credence to California vs TCU betting on the Golden Bears. Otherwise, it’ll be on Miller (13.3 ppg) and Charles O’Bannon Jr. (10.8 ppg) among those needing to step up.
California Golden Bears vs. Texas Christian Horned Frogs Betting Preview
This will come down to a game of pace to determine the California vs TCU betting picks. The Golden Bears have been dreadful, but they’ve been in games and have defended well. But if the Horned Frogs can dictate a quicker tempo, they should be able to pull ahead pretty quickly, even if Miller can’t go.
But 57% of public bets are on Cal to cover the spread for the first time this season, while another 53% of bets are on the overs. The public thinks it’ll be a closer game, perhaps because of Miles’ injury that may keep him out of the game.
Cal is 5-1 against the spread in its last six neutral site games. Meanwhile, TCU is also 5-1 against the spread in its last six neutral site games. The over is 4-1 in the last five Horned Frogs games, too.
California Golden Bears vs. Texas Christian Horned Frogs Betting Prediction
Watch for the injury report but we’ll take TCU -13 in the hopes of Miles playing. They righted many wrongs last time out and simply have much better players
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