TCU Comes Back
The Gonzaga Bulldogs will meet their third Big 12 team of the season in the TCU Horned Frogs in the Round of 32 on Sunday, and this time they’ll be hoping for better results.
Gonzaga has already matched up with both Texas and Baylor, losing to both. TCU will be aiming to be the third Big 12 team to grab a win over the mighty Bulldogs after the Horned Frogs split the conference season with both the Longhorns and the Bears.
It looked like the Bulldogs’ lack of defensive strength would be a problem in the first half of their round one game against Grand Canyon, as the Antelopes refused to go away. However, after taking a four-point lead into halftime, Gonzaga pulled away in the second for its 14th straight first-round victory.
The Horned Frogs had a different path to victory in the first round. Despite trailing for the majority of the game, TCU pulled off the close win over Arizona State after the Horned Frogs didn’t get a lead in the second half until 34 seconds remained.
According to college basketball lines, Gonzaga is a 4.5-point favorite in the matchup.
TCU Hangs On
Although the Horned Frogs didn’t play as strong as they usually do in shot-making or holding their opponent, TCU still came out with the win.
TCU averages 75.1 points a game on 45.4 shooting, but against Arizona State, it shot just 35.5%. The Horned Frogs’ defense also struggled, as while they allowed opponents to shoot 42.7% this season, the Sun Devils finished shooting 48.1%.
Mike Miles Jr. led with 26 points, but key players also stepped up in crucial moments to help secure the win. All of Damion Baugh’s 11 points came down the stretch, helping to pull the Horned Frogs closer to the Sun Devils and eventually take the lead.
JaKobe Coles also scored in double digits, though none of his 11 points off the bench were more important than the two he scored with three seconds remaining to secure the win.
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN MARCH 🙌 @TCUBasketball pic.twitter.com/wzQblf8wq6
— ESPN (@espn) March 18, 2023
The Horned Frogs’ ability to take care of the ball was also crucial, as their season-low five turnovers led to four points for Arizona State while TCU scored 17 points off of 13 ASU turnovers.
TCU’s capability to rely on players outside of Miles will be important as they take on the high-powered Gonzaga offense.
According to NCAA basketball lines, the Horned Frogs have +5000 odds to win the championship.
Gonzaga Stays Hot
The Bulldogs have been the best shooting team all season, and that fact remained in their first-round win against Grand Canyon University.
Though the Antelopes kept Gonzaga on the ropes in the first half due to their strong 45.5% shooting, the Zags shot 51.6% to keep pace.
Gonzaga only got hotter in the second half, shooting 56%, and finished the game shooting 53.6% while going 7-of-15 from beyond the arc.
Drew Timme is normally the Bulldogs leading scorer, averaging 20.9 points a game, but Julian Strawther paced Gonzaga in the win, scoring 28, with 16 of those points coming in the first half. Timme poured in 21 for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs’ ability to outshoot opponents will carry them through the tournament.
According to NCAA basketball odds, Gonzaga has +1500 odds to win March Madness.
TCU vs Gonzaga Game Injuries
TCU vs Gonzaga Head-to-Head
TCU and Gonzaga have met twice previously, with each team getting a win. The last time the two matched up was in December 1998 in Texas, where the Horned Frogs won 90-87.
According to college basketball odds, TCU has +900 odds to reach the Final Four while the sportsbook gives Gonzaga +400 odds to do so.
TCU vs Gonzaga Game Information
- Game: TCU (22-12, 9-9 Big 12) vs Gonzaga (29-5, 14-2 West Coast)
- Location: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
- Day/Time: Sunday, March 19, 9:40 p.m. ET
- TCU vs Gonzaga Live Stream: TBS.com
TCU vs Gonzaga Betting Lines
TCU vs Gonzaga Picks & Prediction
Tteams will meet after dissimilar round-one wins for the opportunity to advance to the Sweet 16.
After shaking off the rust in the first half against Grand Canyon, Gonzaga turned on the heaters in the second half and pulled away, keeping the Antelopes’ scoring down as well. TCU, meanwhile, didn’t have the best shooting night, but were still able to win a tight game by winning the turnover battle and finding balanced scoring. This game has the potential to be an upset if TCU hits some more shots, but the Bulldogs are on fire, which should ultimately help them move on.
The Gonzaga Bulldogs are listed at -195 in our Vegas lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Bulldogs, you have a chance to win $51. The TCU Horned Frogs are +165, offering a chance to win $165 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Gonzaga Bulldogs a 66.10% chance to win, with the TCU Horned Frogs at 37.74%.
TCU vs Gonzaga Trends
TCU vs Gonzaga Edge
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TCU vs Gonzaga Game Summary
