Baylor vs TCU Odds
| Baylor Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Point Spread | Over/Under | Moneyline |
-4.5 -105 | 149.5 -110o / -110u | -190 |
| TCU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Point Spread | Over/Under | Moneyline |
+4.5 -115 | 149.5 -110o / -110u | +155 |
The Baylor Bears lost a heartbreaker last Saturday at Texas thanks to this play by Longhorns guard Tyrese Hunter.
Court-level view of the game-winning buzzer beater from Tyrese Hunter! pic.twitter.com/O9c5ssB77n
— Hook'em Headlines (@HookemHeadlines) January 20, 2024
Scott Drew's team did everything to win the game but went cold offensively for too long in the second half. It's safe to say he will have his team ready to bounce back at home after six days off.
The Bears will welcome the TCU Horned Frogs to Waco, Texas, on Saturday evening. The Horned Frogs barely escaped in their last matchup with Oklahoma State.
Let's dive into the matchup.
Baylor Bears
Many hoops fanatics are ready to give up on the Bears after last weekend's performance, but if anything, I came away more impressed than I expected. The team played excellent defense in the second half, and it made me believe Baylor has the ability to defend at a high level.
Besides the situational spot, there is a ton of offensive potential for the Bears in the matchup. Not only are they the best 3-point shooting team in the country, but they are extremely tough to defend inside.
The Horned Frogs have talent in the frontcourt, but it is not enough to slow them down. They should earn trips to the foul line and capitalize on their opportunities down low for free points.
I also expect the backcourt talent discrepancy to play a significant role. Guards Jalen Bridges, Ja'Kobe Walter and RayJ Dennis are only the beginning of the firepower for Baylor.
Jayden Nunn has also recently inserted himself in the starting lineup and he's shooting 41% from deep. There are simply way too many explosive options for the Horned Frogs to contain.
TCU Horned Frogs
Jamie Dixon is a phenomenal coach, so it is not a good idea to fade him in most situations. Dixon's team is 3-3 in the Big 12, but if you took away the Horned Frogs' nonconference schedule, their resume is not impressive. I have a hunch that they are going to get exposed down the stretch.
Dixon's team is talented, but they do not make enough 3s and are mediocre from the foul line. If they were in any other conference, this conversation would be different.
The Horned Frogs rely on their interior scoring and do an excellent job generating second-chance opportunities. The frontcourt is the focal point of the team, starring forwards JaKobe Coles, Micah Peavy and Emanuel Miller.
TCU will score inside, but I don't think that will be enough. The recipe to defeat the Bears is keeping up offensively.
I am still trying to figure out what happened to guard Jameer Nelson Jr., a star transfer from Delaware. Nelson is shooting just 25% from deep and his minutes have slowly diminished as the season has progressed.
Going up against the best 3-point shooting team in the country is always a tall task. There is too much firepower to worry about on the Bears' side of the floor, so I think the Horned Frogs are overmatched.
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Baylor vs TCU
Betting Pick & Prediction
The Bears have Final Four potential if their defense can follow suit with the offense. Last weekend was a glimpse at how strong they can be on the defensive end, so I am curious to see if they can take that leap forward.
I am not afraid of shooting regression, and this is way too good of a spot to pass up with Baylor. I still like the makeup of Dixon's team, but the Horned Frogs are outclassed in the talent department here.
I trust the spot, and I trust Drew's team to come out guns blazing.
Pick: Baylor -5.5 (Play to -7)
