TCU coach Jamie Dixon came back to his alma mater hoping to rebuild the program. Dixon, who started the Horned Frogs in 2016-17, had guided TCU to the second round of the NCAA Tournament since the first time Dixon played there in 1987. TCU has made two trips to the NCAA Tournament and the NIT championship since Dixon took over.
Sports betting guides show Arizona is one of the blueblood programs in the sport. The Wildcats brought in former Gonzaga assistant Tommy Lloyd to lead the program and has made a major impact on Arizona.
The Wildcats ran away from the rest of the conference, capturing the regular season on PAC 12 Tournament titles. In the first round of the tournament, Arizona continued its torrid pace by beating up on Horizon League champion Wright State. The Wildcats built an 11-point lead at halftime and never looked back.
Last games records
Arizona beat Wright State 87-70 on March 18. The Wildcats are 32-3 this season. TCU beat Seton Hall 69-42 on March 18. The Horned Frogs have a 21-12 record.
Matchup Information:
Arizona vs TCU Betting Analysis
Arizona Wildcats Betting Analysis
Arizona has been a difficult team to stop all season because the Wildcats have more scoring punch than any other team in the nation. Arizona is third in the nation in scoring average, contributing 84.6 points per game.
In the first round against Wright State, the Wildcats made 55 percent of their shots. Arizona also shot 55 percent (11 of 20) from beyond the 3-point line.
Benedict Mathurin, who leads the team by averaging 17.4 points per game, scored a team-high 18 for the Wildcats against the Raiders. Arizona shoots 49.5 percent from the field, which ranks fifth nationally. Mathurin and Kerr Kriisa are tied for the team lead in making 3-pointers, with each player having knocked down 78 on the season.
TCU Horned Frogs Betting Analysis
The Horned Frogs best exemplify what a strong Jamie Dixon team looks like. TCU plays at a deliberate pace on offense and focuses on pounding the glass.
The Horned Frogs outrebound their opponents by an average margin of 8.6 rebounds per game. TCU cleaned the glass in the first round, outrebounding Seton Hall 39-26.
Mike Miles, who leads the Horned Frogs by scoring 15.2 points per game, led TCU with 21 points and four rebounds. TCU, which scored 69 points against the Pirates, rank 249th nationally in scoring offense, allowing 68.4 points per game. The Horned Frogs also aren’t a serious threat from the perimeter, shooting 29.9 percent from the perimeter, which ranks 336th nationally.
TCU does have a top-notch defense along with a strong offense. The Horned Frogs rank 50th nationally in scoring defense, holding teams to 64.8 points per game. TCU only shoots 31.3 percent from the perimeter, which ranks 62nd nationally.
Team Updates:
Kriisa is questionable with an ankle injury. He didn’t play in the first round for Arizona.
- Arizona is 19-14-2 against the spread.
- TCU is 19-11-3 against the spread.
- The Blue Devils have seen the total go over in 20 of their 35 games.
- The Horned Frogs has seen the over go 14-18-2 in their games.
- Arizona is 17-12-2 against the spread following a win.
- TCU is 10-6-3 against the spread following a win.
Arizona Wildcats vs TCU Horned Frogs Betting Preview
March Madness betting odds have Arizona as a 9.5-point favorite. You can also make March Madness bets on the over/under, which is set at 143.5.
Arizona Wildcats vs TCU Horned Frogs Betting Prediction
Despite TCU’s remarkable turnaround under Dixon, betting guides have Arizona as a heavy favorite against the Horned Frogs. For TCU to be able to pull off a stunning upset, the Horned Frogs are going to have to make this one ugly. If TCU can make this game strictly about defense and rebounding, there’s a chance TCU can pull off the upset.
However, Arizona appears to be one of the best teams in the nation. Even if TCU can slow down the pace, the Wildcats have more talent in the lineup. Arizona will be able to set the pace and march on to the second round!
If you are keen on betting on March Madness, take the Arizona -7.
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