Saturday College Basketball Odds, Picks & Predictions: Texas Tech vs. TCU (Feb. 26)
Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images. Pictured: Micah Peavy (TCU)
- TCU plays host to top-10 Texas Tech on Saturday afternoon in hopes of notching a home upset to add to its borderline NCAA Tournament resume.
- Meanwhile, the Red Raiders are out to prove the world that they are, in fact, capable of excelling beyond the friendly confines of their home arena.
- Below, you'll find our comprehensive college basketball betting preview for Texas Tech vs. TCU, including updated odds, picks and predictions for Saturday's Big 12 game.
Texas Tech vs. TCU Odds
| Texas Tech Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5 -110 | 129.5 -110o / -110u | N/A |
| TCU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5 -110 | 129.5 -110o / -110u | N/A |
We've got an intriguing Big 12 battle in Fort Worth on Saturday, as Texas Tech hits the road to take on TCU. Both of these teams have a lot to play for, and they actually just faced each other two Saturday's ago.
For the Red Raiders, a Big 12 regular-season title is still within striking distance, as well as a 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Tech currently sits two back of Kansas in the loss column, but the Jayhawks do have some difficult games remaining.
Mark Adams' team currently sits inside the top-10 of the polls, and a strong finish to the regular season would leave the Red Raiders with one of the most complete resumes of any team in the country.
As for the Horned Frogs, the focus right now is on securing a couple more wins to finish out Big 12 play and locking up a bid to the NCAA Tournament. TCU has not been to the Big Dance since 2018, and Jamie Dixon & Co. desperately want to make it back.
TCU is currently sitting at 6-8 in Big 12 play, with a difficult schedule to close out the year. Getting to 8-10 would put the Frogs in a comfortable position, but with Tech on Saturday and still two games slated against Kansas, they are going to have to earn it.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech continues to be one of the more surprising stories of the entire college basketball season. Adams has done a masterful job replacing Chris Beard, and Tech has been absolutely dominant at home all year.
The Red Raiders enter this one winners of four in a row, and the first game of that winning streak was an 82-69 triumph over TCU. In the first meeting against the Horned Frogs, Tech outscored TCU by 16 in the second half to pull away. Terrence Shannon Jr. had 20 points off of the bench on 7-of-9 shooting.
The defense continues to be the anchor for this Red Raiders team. KenPom currently has the unit ranked No. 1 in the entire country in adjusted efficiency, and it is holding opponents to 43% shooting on 2-point field goals.
Adams' team swarms to the ball at all times, it limits opponents to one shot a trip and it turns squads over. TCU actually hit 11 triples in the first matchup, which was one of the highest totals Tech has allowed all season.
Guarding the arc will definitely be a focal point for Adams Saturday night.
TCU Horned Frogs
Going back to his Pitt days, Dixon has always been known for building physical teams that play hard for 40 minutes. This year's TCU group is definitely no exception. The Horned Frogs only lost once in the non-conference, and they have been a tough out all year in the Big 12.
It's been a tough go as of late for TCU, though, as the Frogs have only won two of their last seven, albeit against a very difficult schedule.
The biggest reason for some of the struggles has been due to a mixed bag on the offensive end. TCU's shooting splits can often be very volatile, and the Frogs don't really have a guard who can create his own shot.
That said, TCU rebounds the ball at a high level and it is very solid on the defensive end. Dixon's team is going to need to take the fight to Texas Tech if it wants to pull off the upset at home.
Texas Tech vs. TCU Betting Pick
As good as Texas Tech has been all year, the Red Raiders have not been quite the same team when playing away from its own building. All four of the Red Raiders' losses in conference play have come on the road, and the offense has sputtered at times in those contests.
Knowing 1-to-2 more league wins will get his team back in the tournament, I expect Dixon to have his group's undivided attention for this one. The Horned Frogs have the size and physicality to battle with Tech, and as a team, it has shot the ball much better throughout the year at home.
I anticipate this game being hard-fought and tight the entire way, so I'll back the Frogs here catching the points in a game of the utmost importance for them.
It will be lower scoring and it may not be pretty, but TCU will cover this number.
Pick: TCU +5 or better
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