One of the most improved teams in the nation is TCU under first-year coach Jamie Dixon, formerly of Pittsburgh. The Horned Frogs are 17-7 overall and 6-5 in the Big 12 and are a potential NCAA Tournament team. A victory like Saturday at No. 6 Baylor could be the final stamp TCU needs to go dancing. However, the Bears will be solid favorites in the college basketball spreads.
When: Saturday, Feb. 11, 2 PM ET
Where: Ferrell Center, Waco
TV: ESPNU
Stream: WatchESPN Radio: TCU / Baylor
Opening NCAAB Lines: Baylor favored by TBA
Texas Tech led in big statistical categories despite loss. The Red Raiders forced 21 turnovers and capitalized on the Horned Frogs’ mistakes by turning out 28 points off the turnovers. Texas Tech also led in points in the paint with 26. TCU led 31-30 at the half and is now 14-1 when ahead at the break.
TCU shot 47.6 percent from the field, snapping its streak of three straight games over 50 percent for the first time since February 2001. The Horned Frogs were looking for a fourth consecutive contest of at least 50 percent for the first time since December 1998.
Freshman Jaylen Fisher scored a career-high 17 points as the Horned Frogs won their third straight. Vladimir Brodziansky had 14 points to reach double figures in scoring for a team-best 17th time this season. JD Miller was 4-of- 4 on 3-point attempts to give him 11 treys in the last five games after not having any in the previous six contests. Miller’s 15 points put him in double figures for the third time in the last four contests. He reached double digits in scoring in just four of his opening 19 games.
TCU is back over .500 in conference after getting to that mark for the first time in five Big 12 seasons last month. The Horned Frogs are now 6-5 and in fourth place in the Big 12. The six wins represent their most in five seasons in the conference. It is also the latest in a Big 12 campaign that TCU has been over .500 in conference play. TCU has its first three-game winning streak in five seasons of Big 12 play.
Baylor has faced a second-half deficit and come back to win in 10 games this season. BU is 7-2 when trailing at half and averages a +11.0 scoring margin in 2nd halves of those games. BU is 42-5 over the last two seasons when it takes the lead at any point in the 2nd half of a game.
Baylor’s defense is holding teams to 63.4 ppg in Big 12 play, which leads the league by 8.7 ppg. BU leads the league in FG% defense (40%) and rebounding margin (+7.6) in Big 12 play. Baylor’s defense this season has been its best of the Scott Drew era — BU ranks 5th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency — Drew’s best previous defense was ranked No. 23 nationally in 2014-15.
Baylor’s defense ranks 9th nationally in effective field goal percentage defense (44.1), 13th in 2-point FG defense (42.7), 27th in 3-point FG defense (31.0) and 24th in block percentage (13.9). BU is top-20 in scoring defense (7th, 61.4), rebound margin (13th, +7.8) and scoring margin (20th, +12.6).
The Bears go for the season sweep here. They won at TCU 62-53 on Jan. 14. Ishmail Wainright swished a go-ahead 3-pointer with 4:16 left, and there was then a TCU miss and more than a minute before Johnathan Motley’s layup for the Bears. Manu Lecomte added a layup to cap the 7-0 spurt that finally put Baylor ahead to stay. There were five ties and 13 lead changes after halftime. TCU shot 29 percent from the field (17 of 58).
TCU at Baylor Spread, Betting Pick & TV Info
When: Saturday, Feb. 11, 2 PM ET
Where: Ferrell Center, Waco
TV: ESPNU
Stream: WatchESPN Radio: TCU / Baylor
Opening NCAAB Lines: Baylor favored by TBA
Why Bet On TCU?
The Frogs got a big 62-61 win over Texas Tech on Tuesday. TCU held a late one-point lead before Tech’s Keenan Evans connected on one of two free throws with 13 seconds left. Evans then goofed up and was called for a foul that sent TCU’s Alex Robinson to the line with 1.4 seconds remaining. Robinson made his first free throw to give TCU the lead, but missed his second attempt, which eventually did not matter.Texas Tech led in big statistical categories despite loss. The Red Raiders forced 21 turnovers and capitalized on the Horned Frogs’ mistakes by turning out 28 points off the turnovers. Texas Tech also led in points in the paint with 26. TCU led 31-30 at the half and is now 14-1 when ahead at the break.
TCU shot 47.6 percent from the field, snapping its streak of three straight games over 50 percent for the first time since February 2001. The Horned Frogs were looking for a fourth consecutive contest of at least 50 percent for the first time since December 1998.
Freshman Jaylen Fisher scored a career-high 17 points as the Horned Frogs won their third straight. Vladimir Brodziansky had 14 points to reach double figures in scoring for a team-best 17th time this season. JD Miller was 4-of- 4 on 3-point attempts to give him 11 treys in the last five games after not having any in the previous six contests. Miller’s 15 points put him in double figures for the third time in the last four contests. He reached double digits in scoring in just four of his opening 19 games.
TCU is back over .500 in conference after getting to that mark for the first time in five Big 12 seasons last month. The Horned Frogs are now 6-5 and in fourth place in the Big 12. The six wins represent their most in five seasons in the conference. It is also the latest in a Big 12 campaign that TCU has been over .500 in conference play. TCU has its first three-game winning streak in five seasons of Big 12 play.
Why Bet On Baylor?
The Bears have 9 top-50 RPI wins, tying North Carolina and Florida State for most nationally. BU is the only team with 3 top-10 RPI victories. Baylor has been top-10 ranked for 11 consecutive AP Top 25 polls, including 8 weeks in the top-5.Baylor has faced a second-half deficit and come back to win in 10 games this season. BU is 7-2 when trailing at half and averages a +11.0 scoring margin in 2nd halves of those games. BU is 42-5 over the last two seasons when it takes the lead at any point in the 2nd half of a game.
Baylor’s defense is holding teams to 63.4 ppg in Big 12 play, which leads the league by 8.7 ppg. BU leads the league in FG% defense (40%) and rebounding margin (+7.6) in Big 12 play. Baylor’s defense this season has been its best of the Scott Drew era — BU ranks 5th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency — Drew’s best previous defense was ranked No. 23 nationally in 2014-15.
Baylor’s defense ranks 9th nationally in effective field goal percentage defense (44.1), 13th in 2-point FG defense (42.7), 27th in 3-point FG defense (31.0) and 24th in block percentage (13.9). BU is top-20 in scoring defense (7th, 61.4), rebound margin (13th, +7.8) and scoring margin (20th, +12.6).
The Bears go for the season sweep here. They won at TCU 62-53 on Jan. 14. Ishmail Wainright swished a go-ahead 3-pointer with 4:16 left, and there was then a TCU miss and more than a minute before Johnathan Motley’s layup for the Bears. Manu Lecomte added a layup to cap the 7-0 spurt that finally put Baylor ahead to stay. There were five ties and 13 lead changes after halftime. TCU shot 29 percent from the field (17 of 58).
