NCAAB Picks: TCU vs Arizona State Prediction, 03/17

Photo Credit: © William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports

Preview

The TCU Horned Frogs and Arizona State Sun Devils are set to face off in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, and both teams are looking to make a statement. TCU comes into the game as the No. 22 seed and is favored by -5 points over the Sun Devils.

TCU Horned Frogs

The TCU Horned Frogs finished the regular season with a 21-12 record, which includes a 9-9 record in the tough Big 12 conference. This is the third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance for TCU, and the team will be looking to make a deeper run this year.

One of the key players for the Horned Frogs is sophomore guard Mike Miles. He leads the team in scoring with an average of 17.3 points per game and has been a consistent threat from beyond the arc, shooting 35.4% from 3-point range. He is also a solid playmaker, averaging 3.5 assists per game. Junior guard RJ Nembhard is another player to watch, as he is averaging 15.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.

TCU's defense has been solid this season, holding opponents to an average of 67.9 points per game. The team has also been able to create turnovers, averaging 7.2 steals per game. However, rebounding has been an issue for TCU, as they have been outrebounded by an average of 2.1 rebounds per game.

In their last 10 games, TCU has gone 4-6, but they have played tough against some of the top teams in the country. The Horned Frogs have wins over Oklahoma State and Texas Tech, both ranked teams, during that span. TCU will need to play with that same level of intensity if they hope to advance in the tournament.

Arizona State Sun Devils

The Arizona State Sun Devils finished the regular season with a 23-12 record, which includes an 11-9 record in the Pac-12 conference. This is the second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance for Arizona State, and the team will be looking to improve upon their First Four exit last season.

Desmond Cambridge has been the go-to player for the Sun Devils this season, leading the team in scoring with an average of 13.8 points per game. He is also a solid defender, averaging 1.7 steals per game. Junior guard Remy Martin is another player to watch, as he is averaging 13.5 points and 3.7 assists per game.

Arizona State's offense has been solid this season, averaging 74.5 points per game. However, turnovers have been an issue for the Sun Devils, as they have committed an average of 11.3 turnovers per game. Defensively, the team has held opponents to an average of 69.3 points per game. They have also been able to create turnovers, averaging 7.6 steals per game.

In their last 10 games, Arizona State has gone 6-4, but they have struggled against some of the top teams in their conference. The Sun Devils have losses to USC, Colorado, and UCLA during that span. Arizona State will need to bring their A-game if they hope to upset TCU in the opening round of the tournament.

Betting Trends

According to Vegas odds, TCU is favored by -5 points over Arizona State, and the over/under is set at 141 points. 

Public Betting Data

The public betting data is split almost evenly between the two teams, with 52% of the bets going to TCU and 48% going to Arizona State.

Prediction

Despite finishing with a 4-6 record in their last 10 games, the TCU Horned Frogs have the potential to come out strong in the NCAA Tournament. They have played some of the top teams in the country tough and have the ability to score points in bunches, which will be key in their matchup against Arizona State.

Led by the dynamic backcourt duo of Mike Miles and RJ Nembhard, the Horned Frogs have the ability to create their own shots and knock down 3-pointers with consistency. This will be a key factor in their game against the Sun Devils, as Arizona State has struggled to defend the perimeter at times this season.

Defensively, TCU has been solid, holding opponents to an average of 67.9 points per game. They have been able to create turnovers and generate transition opportunities, which has been a key factor in their offensive success this season. If they can continue to disrupt Arizona State's offense and limit their scoring opportunities, TCU will have a good chance of winning this game.

PICK: TCU -5 (-110)

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