Big 12 Tournament: TCU vs. Houston odds, picks and predictions
The Houston Cougars (28-3) battle the TCU Horned Frogs (21-11) in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament Thursday. Tip from T-Mobile Center is set for 3 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the TCU vs. Houston odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
Houston is No. 1 in the Paste BN Sports Coaches Poll. The Cougars beat the Kansas Jayhawks 76-46 Saturday, covering as 7.5-point home favorites. They have won 9 straight games but covered in just 3. Houston is 14-15-2 against the spread (ATS) on the season.
TCU is led by G Emanuel Miller, who is averaging 16.3 points per game. It beat the Oklahoma Sooners 77-70 in the 2nd round Wednesday, covering as a 3.5-point favorite. The Horned Frogs have lost 3 of their last 5 games and dropped 6 of their last 10 in the regular season. They are 18-13 ATS.
In a Jan. 13 meeting, TCU covered as a 3-point underdog in a 68-67 Horned Frogs win in Fort Worth as the Under (137.5) hit.
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TCU vs. Houston odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:45 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): TCU +400 (bet $100 to win $400) | Houston -550 (bet $550 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): TCU +9.5 (-102) | Houston -9.5 (-120)
- Over/Under (O/U): 137.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
TCU vs. Houston picks and predictions
Prediction
Houston 72, TCU 66
Moneyline
PASS.
Houston (-550) is a strong team -- capable of scoring and defending at an ultra-high level. It should come out on top but isn't worth backing at -550.
Against the spread
BET TCU +9.5 (-120).
The Horned Frogs didn't come out on top often down the stretch of the regular season, but they did cover. They covered in 2 of their last 3 games as underdogs, 6 of their last 9 overall, and 4 of 5 away from home.
Houston, while it has won big-time games, has failed to cover in 3 of its last 4 and lost to TCU in the Jan. 13 meeting. The Horned Frogs have playmakers who can make tough shots, which is needed to compete against the nation's best defense.
Expect them to keep up, and back TCU +9.5 (-120).
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Over/Under
LEAN OVER 137.5 (-110).
The Cougars might have a terrific defense, but that success also impacts the total and drops it significantly. They have gone Over in 4 of their last 7 games, allowing at least 76 points in 2 of their last 5.
TCU is 17-14 O/U on the season and 6-2 O/U in its last 8 games. It has scored 75 or more in 4 straight games. Considering those trends, back OVER 137.5 (-110).
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