A Lonestar State showdown has produced two great games already this season, and hopefully, a third one is in store when the TCU Horned Frogs and Texas Longhorns meet in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals. It figures to be one of the NCAA basketball games today.
The Longhorns finished second in the college basketball standings to earn their easier matchup in the quarterfinals. The Horned Frogs were seeded sixth and upset Kansas State, which was seeded third. But that really is not a surprise for those who have followed the uber-competitive Big 12 NCAA basketball teams.
Here is a breakdown of each team, the TCU vs Texas odds, and predictions for the game.
TCU Horned Frogs vs. Texas Longhorns Odds
The TCU vs Texas odds show the Longhorns are favored by 2.5 points with -110 odds on either side of the spread. The NCAAB odds today show Texas is -140 on the moneyline while the Horned Frogs are +120. The NCAAB odds have an over/under of 147 points, with -110 odds on either side.
Team odds show an over/under of 72.5 points for the Horned Frogs, with -115 odds on either side. The Texas team odds are an over/under of 75 points with -225 odds on either side.
TCU Horned Frogs vs. Texas Longhorns Matchup Information
TCU Horned Frogs vs Texas Longhorns
Location of the Game: T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, MO.
Date and Time: Friday, March 10, 2023, 9:30 PM ET.
How to Watch:ESPN+ | Big 12 app | https://livestreamsports.co/
TCU Horned Frogs vs. Texas Longhorns Betting Preview
TCU Horned Frogs
There was not much drama with the Horned Frogs until center Eddie Lampkin Jr. decided to take a personal leave of absence, and he made accusations of mistreatment by Jamie Dixon. That was not ideal timing with the NCAAB schedule winding down toward the NCAA Tournament. But that did not spill over into TCU advancing past Kansas State.
The Horned Frogs are 92nd in scoring 75.5 points per game, 83rd in making 46.2% of field goal attempts, and 353rd – out of 362 Division I teams, including the ten who are transitioning up a division – in making 29.6% of 3-point shots. They also convert 70.1% of free throw attempts, which is 243rd.
Defensive Statistics of TCU Men’s Basketball Team
Defensively, TCU is 123rd in holding teams to 68.0 points per game, 105th in holding teams to 42.5% on field goal attempts, and 41st in limiting teams to 31.1% on 3-point shots. The Horned Frogs grab 33.3 rebounds per game, which ranks 90th, and allow 31.5 per game, which ranks 215th.
Mike Miles Jr. was great all season and averaged 17.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. Damion Baugh ran the show, averaging 13.0 points, 6.0 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game.
The Horned Frogs were 16-15-1 against the spread and 16-16 on over/unders. They were 4-7 straight up on the road and 4-0 on a neutral court. They were 6-5 against the spread as underdogs, including 2-2 against the spread when underdogs of 2.5 points or less. TCU was 11-10-1 against the spread against teams with a winning record.
Texas Longhorns
It has been an up-and-down season for the Longhorns after their coach Chris Beard was fired due to his arrest in a domestic violence case. But Rodney Terry has guided the talent and steered the ship wonderfully as Texas (24-8) is a national championship contender and will be popular with their odds to win March Madness.
The Longhorns are 30th in scoring 78.8 points per game, 43rd in making 47.1% of field goal attempts, 168th in making 34.5% of 3-point shots, and 56th in making 74.9% of free throw attempts.
Defensively, Texas allows 68.7 points per game, which ranks 138th. The Longhorns allow teams to convert 42.7% of field goal attempts, which ranks 114th, and 33.3% of 3-point shots, which ranks 146th.
Texas grabs 31.5 rebounds per game, which ranks 197th, and allows 30.8 rebounds per contest, which ranks 173rd.
Texas Longhorns’ Talented Roster and Injury Concerns
The Longhorns have great talent and size across the board. Though forward Timmy Allen is on the college basketball injury report with a leg injury and is listed as questionable. He averaged 10.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game during the regular season.
But the guard play is really what powers the Longhorns with some of the country’s best college basketball players. Marcus Carr beats the drum at 16.2 points and 4.2 assists per game – both team highs – while Sir’Jabari Rice – who is knighted – averaged 12.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 38.2% from 3-point range.
The Longhorns were 15-17 against the college basketball point spread and 16-14-2 on over/unders this season. They were 4-6 in true road games and 3-1 on a neutral court. Longhorns were 10-7 against the spread as favorites, including 2-0 against the spread as favorites of 2.5 points or less. They were 12-11 against the spread against teams with a winning record.
TCU Horned Frogs vs. Texas Longhorns Betting Picks
Those making NCAAB picks who have made their bets public show 67% of the bets are on the Longhorns, and 58% are on the over. The two teams split the regular season meetings – both in the win column and against the spread.
Texas won on its home court, 79-75, on January 11, but the Horned Frogs covered a +6 spread. The over of 143.5 hits. Then the Horned Frogs returned serve on March 1 with a 75-73 win, though the Longhorns covered +3.5 with an under 149.5 hitting.
It seems the TCU vs Texas odds are fair, given how tight the two contests have been, and on a neutral court, it eliminates some of the atmosphere that teams can lean on. But it figures to be a crowd who will want the Horned Frogs to win for a supposedly easier matchup for whichever teams will reach the championship beforehand.
Both NCAAB teams have great guards, but the X-factor is going to be how well the Texas forwards of Hill and Christian Bishop play.
We will take Texas moneyline and -2.5, but we will be sweating it out.
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