TCU vs Kansas State Prediction, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds and Picks
Top 25 Big 12 Squads Hit Ruts
Tuesday night action in the Big 12 features a clash between the No. 17 TCU Horned Frogs (17-6, 6-4 Big 12) and the No. 12 Kansas State Wildcats (18-5, 6-4). The Big 12 has been a grind like no other conference, featuring six teams in the top 17 of the AP Poll.
TCU and Kansas State have been on the losing end over the last two weeks. The Horned Frogs are 1-2 outright and against the spread (ATS) in the last three games as they deal with the injury of leading scorer Mike Miles Jr. The Wildcats have lost back-to-back games while going 0-2 ATS. Either team could easily spiral out of control with another loss in the loaded Big 12.
Let’s check the latest college basketball news, stats, injury reports and college basketball lines for TCU vs Kansas State. We’ve got plenty of NCAA basketball picks for you to consider.
TCU Missing Star Player
Headed into a Jan. 28 matchup with Mississippi State, TCU won three of its last four, including two Top 25 wins. Lead guard Miles, the Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year, went down with a hyperextended knee only four minutes into the game. The Frogs lost in overtime 81-74. They managed to bounce back with a 76-72 win over West Virginia on Jan. 31, but fell once again on Saturday with a 79-73 loss against Oklahoma State.
TCU’s offensive numbers have actually remained steady without Miles at 71.7 points in regulation. However, his ability to create in isolation has been missed. Miles will likely be out once again, and center Eddie Lampkin Jr, who leads the team at 6.5 rebounds per game, is questionable with an ankle injury.
Tuesday’s matchup could come down to the Horned Frogs attacking the paint. Kansas State lacks interior defense, ranking in the bottom 40% in blocks per game and outside the top 100 in opponent 2-point percentage. TCU leans on attacking the paint with only 17.9 attempted 3-pointers per game (322nd). This could be a big game for forward JaKobe Coles (8.1 points), who has stepped up in Miles’ absence with back-to-back games scoring at least 15 points.
Wildcats Enter Shooting Slump
Kansas State dropped five spots in this week’s AP Top 25 Poll due to back-to-back losses. The Wildcats have played well on defense, holding two of their last three opponents to under 30% from three. However, the offense has dealt with a shooting slump.
KSU shoots 45.6% from the field (93rd) on the season. Over the last three games, the Wildcats are shooting 38.2% from the floor. Guard Markquis Nowell (16.8 points) shot 9 of 29 (31%) and 3 of 13 (23.1%) on 3-pointers in the last two games. Even forward Keyontae Johnson (18.1 points), who shoots 52.3%, has shot under 40% in two of the last three.
TCU could be another tough out, especially with its ability to guard the perimeter, ranking 22nd in allowed 3-point percentage. Kansas State also comes off its first home loss of the season against No. 5 Texas (69-66). Before Saturday’s loss, the Wildcats had covered five consecutive home games.
TCU vs Kansas State Game Injuries
TCU vs Kansas State Head-to-Head
This has been a competitive matchup with the two splitting the last six meetings. The road team has won six of the last seven meetings. Plus, TCU has won and covered three consecutive games in Manhattan.
TCU vs Kansas State Game Information
- Game: TCU (17-6, 6-4 Big 12) vs Kansas State (18-5, 6-4)
- Location: Bramlage Coliseum, Manhattan, KS
- Day/Time: Tuesday, Feb. 7, 9:00 p.m. ET
- TCU vs Kansas State Live Stream: TBS.com
TCU vs Kansas State Betting Lines
TCU vs Kansas State Picks and Prediction
On Jan 14., TCU won comfortably against Kansas State (82-68). Forward Emanuel Miller (13.2 points) totaled 23 points and Lampkin had 17 points. The Horned Frogs won the interior matchup and forced 20 turnovers. The Wildcats had 19 turnovers in Saturday’s loss against Texas, and TCU ranks 12th at 16.4 forced turnovers per game.
Without Miles, Miller and guard Damion Baugh have played well. Plus, forward Coles has drastically improved his production. Miller, Baugh and Coles all make a living in the paint, which should fare well against Kansas State’s weak interior defense. The Wildcats could have turnover problems as well. NCAAB odds like Kansas State in this one, but take TCU to pull off the upset.
Kansas State is listed at -210 in our Las Vegas college basketball lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Wildcats, you have a chance to win $48. TCU is +175, offering a chance to win $175 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives Kansas State a 67.74% chance to win, with the Horned Frogs at 36.36%.
