TCU Horned Frogs vs Houston Cougars Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 03/14/2024

Game Time: 3:00 pm ET, Thursday, March 14, 2024

Venue:  T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, MO

Where to Watch:  ESPN

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  TCU +8.5, Houston -8.5; Over/Under:  NL points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  TCU +8.5, Houston -8.5; Over/Under:  NL points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  TCU +8.5, Houston -8.5; Over/Under:  NL points

TCU Horned Frogs:  20-11 (9-9) (7th place, Big 12)

Houston Cougars:  28-3 (15-3) (1st place, Big 12)

Do not miss out on our expert handicapper analysis! Will Rogers is on a HOT STREAK in college basketball on a 12-6 CBB RUN for +$5,230 PROFIT! Make sure you check out his picks and many more from the expert handicappers featured in the Shop Picks section.

TCU Horned Frogs:  2-3  last 5

Houston Cougars:  5-0  last 5

TCU is entering this game with a 21-11 record overall, a 9-9 record in conference games, and they are 3-2 in their neutral site games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a win against the Oklahoma Sooners in their last game. Emanuel Miller led the team in points per game in that game with 26 while Jameer Nelson Jr. was next on the team with 14. Jameer Nelson Jr. led the team in assists with 5 in that game while Emanuel Miller led the team in rebounds with 8. They were 47.2% from the field, 38.9% from 3-point range, and 76.9% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 80.4 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 71.6 PPG against them. TCU has an ATS record of 19-13 this season and their O/U record is 18-14.

Houston is entering this game with a 28-3 record overall, a 15-3 conference record, and they are 4-0 in their neutral site games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a win against the Kansas Jayhawks in their last game. Jamal Shead led the team in points in that game with 13 while Damian Dunn was next on the team with 12. Jamal Shead led the team in assists with 8 in that game while J'wan Roberts led the team in rebounds with 8. They were 43.8% from the field, 37.9% from 3-point range, and 81.8% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 74.2 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 56.9 PPG against them. Houston has an ATS record of 14-15-2 this season and their O/U record is 13-18.

The current betting odds have Houston listed as an 8.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Houston has looked great in their games this season with their 28-3 record overall which has them ranked inside the top 25 teams in the country and also ranked as the best team in the nation right now. They have looked great in the Big 12 this year with their 15-3 conference record which leads the way and they have also been great in their neutral site games with their 4-0 record in those. Meanwhile, TCU has also looked good in their games this season with their 21-11 record overall, but they haven't looked as good in the Big 12 with their 9-9 conference record. They have also struggled a little in their neutral site games with their 3-2 record in those. TCU is coming off a win against Oklahoma in their 1st game of this Big 12 Tournament, but they have still looked terrible in their games lately with their 2-3 record in their last 5 games. Houston has been the much hotter team lately with their 5-0 record in their last 5 games and they also have the advantage of being rested here since TCU is playing this game on a back-to-back too. TCU was able to get by Oklahoma in the last round but now they are playing one of the best teams in the country and they don't have the talent to keep this game close with the way Houston has looked lately. The best way to place a bet here is on Houston to cover the spread in this game. 

TCU Houston Prediction:  Our NCAAB Pick for Thursday, March 14, 2024 (3:00 pm ET start time) is Houston 84 TCU 72.

Don't miss our champion handicappers free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this TCU Horned Frogs Houston Cougars prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our weekly NCAAB predictions and previews.

TCU Horned Frogs: 24-14 ATS as an underdog. 7-2 ATS as a neutral court underdog or pick. 12-7 ATS against conference opponents. 13-6 UNDER after 4 straight games - allowing a shooting pct. of 47% or higher. 4-1 UNDER n conference tournament games.

Houston Cougars: 3-10 ATS off a blowout win by 20 points or more over a conference rival. 4-9 ATS off a home win. 4-9 ATS after playing a home game. 12-5 UNDER as a favorite of 10 or more points. 14-5 UNDER off a blowout win by 30 points or more over a conference rival. 14-7 UNDER in all tournament games.

TCU Horned Frogs:  None.

Houston Cougars:  J. Tugler (F) out for season - Foot. R. Walker Jr. (G) out for season - Knee. T. Arceneaux (G) out for season - Achilles.

“We’ve been like this all year long. We’ve talked about NCAA Tournament the entire season. So yeah, everyone’s aware of it. Your resume is built all year long, every game is just as important as the last in the Big 12.” - Jamie Dixon coming into the Big 12 Tournament.

“It’s gratifying. I’m happy for everybody. There’s so many people that have an inferior complex about ... we’re the University of Houston. This is a damn good school. We live in a damn good city, and we’re a damn good basketball program. We should never ever, ever, ever take a backseat to anybody.” - Kelvin Sampson after his team’s win against Kansas in their last game on Saturday.

A. Anderson 

E. Miller 

M. Peavy 

T. Tennyson 

E. Udeh

L. Cryer 

J. Francis 

J. Roberts 

E. Sharp 

J. Shead

PPG: E. Miller (16)

APG: A. Anderson III (3.4)

Reb/G: E. Miller (5.8)

PPG: L. Cryer (15.7)

APG: J. Shead (6.2)

Reb/G: J. Roberts (7)

Coaches:

TCU Horned Frogs: Jamie Dixon (8th season)

Houston Cougars: Kelvin Sampson (10th season)