The TCU Horned Frogs take on the BYU Cougars in Provo, Utah. Tip-off is set for 11 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
BYU is favored by 12 points on the spread with a moneyline of -950. The total is set at 157 points.
Here’s my TCU vs. BYU prediction and college basketball picks for January 15, 2026.
TCU vs BYU Prediction
My Pick: Under 157 (Play to 155)
My TCU vs BYU best bet is on the under. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
TCU vs. BYU Odds
| TCU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+12 -110 | 157 -110 / -110 | +625 |
| BYU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-12 -110 | 157 -110 / -110 | -950 |
- TCU vs BYU spread: BYU -12
- TCU vs BYU over/under: 157 points
- TCU vs BYU moneyline: TCU +625, BYU -950
TCU vs BYU College Basketball Betting Preview
TCU Basketball
TCU comes in off back-to-back losses against Kansas and Arizona over the last week, the first in heartbreaking fashion. The Horned Frogs had been on a roll and are truly a couple of breaks away from having a strong resume to present to the committee on Selection Sunday.
Instead, TCU sits at 11-5 overall and just 1-2 in league play.
The offense went through a stretch in the non-conference slate where it was sporadic and struggled to make shots.
David Punch leads the Frogs in scoring (14 PPG), while Jayden Pierre, Xavier Edmonds and Liutauras Lelivicius each average 10.
The Frogs' defense has been tough, as Jamie Dixon-coached teams often are equipped with. This high-energy defense forces turnovers at a rate that's top-30 nationally, and the unit does well to limit offensive rebounds despite not having a ton of size in the paint.
BYU will be a great test for how reliable this defense will be the rest of the season.
BYU Basketball
BYU has been incredibly impressive this season, as the Cougars sit at 15-1 with their only defeat coming against UConn by two points.
The offense is led by AJ Dybantsa, who's averaging 23 points per game this season. Richie Saunders and Robert Wright III average 19 and 17 points, respectively, as BYU has the eighth-most efficient offense in the country.
The Cougars share the ball well and have shooters all over the floor. It’s a versatile attack that will challenge most defensive units.
The Cougars have been really sound defensively, as well, ranking 17th nationally in defensive efficiency. BYU contests everything in the paint and defends without fouling.
Keba Keita is great at altering shots and guarding the rim, and the Cougars aren't caught out of position frequently.
TCU vs. BYU Betting Analysis
This line opened BYU -12 with a total of 157. I like the under here.
We have an interesting spot for BYU in its first game since winning the Holy War. BYU was at Utah on Saturday and won a spirited rivalry game and now it's in a bit of a letdown spot. With how TCU plays defense, I could see a slower start in this game for BYU offensively.
I think we'll continue to see TCU side toward slower tempo games when it can help it. TCU ranks just 187th in pace, but we did see Dixon slow the tempo down considerably in December in the non-conference and in its conference opener against Baylor.
Even with average pace, I don't think TCU is going to be able to operate well offensively against this BYU defense. TCU isn’t going to be able to do a lot of work in the post, and I don't expect the Frogs to be at the line much.
TCU is going to have to nail 3-point shots to stay in this one, and the Frogs will likely need a more production from their bench.
TCU is capable of defending well against BYU, and the athleticism of the Frogs can keep this team in this game, especially if BYU starts off sluggish after the rivalry win.
I think both teams will find just marginal success in the paint, and TCU will slow the pace to try to limit the BYU offense. The Frogs don’t want to get into an up-and-down track meet in this matchup.
My Pick: Under 157 (Play to 155)
