The Notre Dame Fighting Irish take on the TCU Horned Frogs in Fort Worth, TX. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
TCU is favored by -6.5 points on the spread with game totals set at 139.5 points.
Here are my Notre Dame vs. TCU predictions and college basketball picks for December 5, 2025.
Notre Dame vs TCU Prediction
My Pick: Notre Dame +6.5
My Notre Dame vs TCU best bet is on the Fighting Irish 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.
Notre Dame vs. TCU Odds
| Notre Dame Odds | |
|---|---|
| Spread | Total |
+6.5 -110 | 139.5 -110o / -110u |
| TCU Odds | |
|---|---|
| Spread | Total |
-6.5 -110 | 139.5 -110o / -110u |
- Notre Dame vs TCU spread: Notre Dame +6.5 (-110), TCU -6.5 (-110)
- Notre Dame vs TCU over/under: 139.5 (-110 / -110)
Notre Dame vs TCU College Basketball Betting Preview
Notre Dame Basketball
It's a big year for Micah Shrewsberry and Notre Dame.
The first two seasons of Shrews' tenure have been tough sledding, but to his defense, the cupboard was pretty bare when he took over.
The Irish returned plenty of talented pieces for this season, and also brought in some additions from the transfer portal, as well as the freshman class.
As a result, expectations are much higher for this season and many in South Bend are hoping for a return to the NCAA Tournament.
It's been a little bit of a mixed bag so far in 2025. The Irish beat Missouri earlier this week, and also looked very good in a one-point defeat in Columbus to Ohio State.
There were also three games in Vegas for the Players Era, where ND finished 1-2, showed flashes, but ultimately could not hang with Kansas and Houston, two elite teams.
Markus Burton is one of the more dynamic point guards in America and the junior has had the keys to the Notre Dame offense since he showed up on campus as a freshman.
Jalen Haralson was the highest-ranked recruit ND had signed in years, and he has lived up to the billing thus far in his freshman season.
The Irish need to be cleaner on the offensive end, where they currently rank outside the top 80 in Ken Pom's adjOE rankings.
Part of that is because while Carson Towt and Kebba Njie are good rebounders and defenders on the interior, neither really offers much offensively when they get a paint touch. As a result, this offense can sometimes live and die with the three-ball.
When the shots are falling, the Irish can play with most in the country.
TCU Basketball
Very few teams in the country have a more bizarre resume than TCU.
The Horned Frogs opened the season with a home loss to a 2-6 New Orleans team.
Since that game, TCU has beaten Florida and Wisconsin, and its only loss came by four points to Michigan, which is arguably the best team in America right now.
Jamie Dixon has always done a good job of using the transfer portal to his advantage, and this year was no different with the guys being brought in.
Brock Harding gives the Frogs a veteran guard who rarely makes a mistake and is really good at getting into the lane and then finding the open man.
Jayden Pierre came over from Providence and has fit right into this system on both sides of the floor.
It's no surprise that a Dixon-coached team is inside the top 20 in defensive efficiency.
If TCU wants to return to the NCAA Tournament and hold up in Big 12 play, it will need to get a little bit more consistent production on the offensive side of the floor.
Notre Dame guards pretty well, so the Frogs will need to shoot it well inside their building if they want to create margin in this one.
They also need to do a better job on the backboards, as teams have had success generating second shots on the offensive glass against TCU.
Notre Dame vs. TCU Betting Analysis
I think Notre Dame's home win Tuesday night over an undefeated Missouri team will serve as a momentum boost for the Irish for the rest of the season.
This team is playing hard every night, and its defense and effort should travel to Fort Worth.
While the Horned Frogs have been hot, I expect this one to come right down to the wire, so I show plenty of value on the Irish as an underdog of 6.5 points in this one.
ND should get some clean looks from behind the arc, and if the shots are falling, they can pull off this upset.
Give me the Irish with the points.
My Pick: Notre Dame +6.5 (Play to 5.5)
