The TCU Horned Frogs (3-2) and No. 8 Florida Gators (4-1) meet Thursday at Jenny Craig Pavilion in San Diego, California. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. ET (FS1) Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NCAA basketball odds around the TCU vs. Florida odds and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions for the best bets.
TCU rolled past the Kansas City Roos Wednesday, turning it into a one-sided 81-45 rout while easily covering the 23.5 point spread with the Under (149) cashing. G Jayden Pierre sparkled offensively, finishing with 17 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, while G Liutauras Lelevicius added 16 points. The Horned Frogs’ defense set the tone, with 12 steals and suffocating the Roos all game long.
Florida has settled in after its opening stumble against the Arizona Wildcats, rolling to a fourth straight victory with an 80-45 win over the Merrimack Warriors Friday night. The Gators won the rebounding battle 53-25. F Alex Condon led the charge with 20 points and 11 boards, while C Rueben Chinyelu was a force inside, grabbing 21 rebounds to go with 14 points as Florida cruised comfortably at home.
These programs last squared off on Jan. 26, 2019, when TCU edged Florida 55-50. The Horned Frogs covered the 3.5-point spread, while the game stayed comfortably Under the 134.5 total.
– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
Watch NCAA basketball on Fubo!TCU vs. Florida odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:53 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): TCU +675 (bet $100 to win $675) | Florida -1100 (bet $1,100 to win $100)Against the spread (ATS): TCU +13.5 (-110) | Florida -13.5 (-110)Over/Under (O/U): 155.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)TCU vs. Florida picks and predictionsPrediction
Florida 80, TCU 65
PASS.
I like the Gators (-1100) to win comfortably on Thursday, which is why I’ll take my wager to the spread.
BET FLORIDA -13.5 (-110).
I’m pretty comfortable rolling with Florida to cover here. When I watch this team, the first thing that jumps out is how physical they are. They absolutely own the glass, and that’s where this matchup starts and ends for me. Florida just keeps creating extra possessions, and against a TCU team that hasn’t seen this kind of size yet, that’s a big problem.
The Gators look locked in after that opening loss, and you can tell the confidence is growing. They’re scoring in spurts but also doing the little things — moving the ball, getting second-chance points, and defending without panicking. I love the balance, too. It’s not just one guy carrying the load, which makes them way tougher to slow down.
TCU has some solid guards, but I don’t see them holding up inside for 40 minutes. Florida’s frontcourt should wear them down, and once that happens, the gap starts to grow fast. Add in Florida’s ability to defend and limit clean looks, and this feels like a spot where they control the game from start to finish.
BET UNDER 155.5 (-105).
TCU likes to slow things down and play physical, and that’s not exactly ideal for a Florida team that’s been ice cold from deep this season. If the Gators aren’t hitting 3s, it’s tough for them to really stretch the score. Both teams have been Under in at least their last 3 games, and even their last meeting stayed below the total. Everything about this matchup feels like a slower, more methodical game that doesn’t get too wild on the scoreboard.
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