The Incarnate Word Cardinals take on the TCU Horned Frogs in Fort Worth, Texas. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
TCU is favored by -17.5 points on the spread with a price of 55 cents to win and the total set at 145.5 points on Fanatics Markets.
Here’s my Incarnate Word vs. TCU predictions and college basketball picks for December 15, 2025.
Incarnate Word vs TCU Prediction
My Pick: TCU -17.5 (Play to -19)
My Incarnate Word vs TCU best bet is on the Horned Frogs to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Incarnate Word vs. TCU Odds
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Incarnate Word vs TCU College Basketball Betting Preview
Incarnate Word Basketball
Incarnate Word is in the midst of its third year under Shane Heisman, and its crutch has been inconsistency. With just a 5-5 record, the Cardinals have struggled to maintain anything resembling a decent defense.
Their only good win this season has come against McNeese, which was a four-point victory on their home court. Of their other four wins, three have been against non-Division I opponents, with the fourth coming against 311th-ranked Southern Indiana.
Their biggest struggles have come on the defensive side, as they rank 316th in adjusted defensive efficiency. They also ranked 351st in 2-point field goal percentage allowed and 348th in effective field goal percentage overall.
They struggle to create turnovers and enable teams to get to the free-throw line at a high rate.
They also struggle to make free throws, hitting just 69.9% of their freebies. That's a problem considering they get to the free-throw line at a high rate.
This is a slow-paced team that ranks 306th in adjusted tempo and 330th in average possession length, which are troubling indicators if it falls behind.
TCU Basketball
Jamie Dixon has been afforded another season at the helm in Fort Worth, and in his 10th campaign, he may have the best roster he's had overall at TCU.
This team has been really inconsistent — like the vistors.
The Horned Frogs have a strong win against Florida, but a terrible loss against New Orleans. They also lost to Michigan — the No. 1 team in the land — by just four points.
They rank 112th in offensive adjusted efficiency and 20th in defensive adjusted efficiency.
Their offense will likely look to exploit the inconsistencies of the Cardinals' defense.
They also lost their last home game against Notre Dame, so we can expect a valiant effort here.
Incarnate Word vs. TCU Betting Analysis
This spread is sitting right around 17.5, and with how Incarnate Word comes into this game, it’s just not enough points.
The Cardinals are really inconsistent on defense, and their five losses have shown they're struggling.
This TCU team will also be the highest-rated team the Cardinals have faced, coming in at 56th in KenPom's rankings. Incarnate Word faced Colorado State, which is ranked 62nd in KenPom, and lost by 34 points.
Their other losses have been close, but their last three defeats have come against teams ranked 100 or worse in KenPom.
I’ll lay the chalk here.
My Pick: TCU -17.5 (Play to -19)
