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The Xavier Musketeers (7-1) and the TCU Horned Frogs (4-3) meet Thursday at Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college basketball odds around the Xavier vs. TCU odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
Xavier topped South Carolina State 71-68 last time out Sunday, nearly suffering a gigantic upset as a 26-point favorite. It did bounce back with a win, though, after the ugly 78-53 loss to Michigan at the Fort Myers Tip-off around Thanksgiving. The Musketeers are just 1-3 against the spread (ATS) in the past 4 games, while cashing low in 6 in a row, and 7 of 8 this season.
The Horned Frogs were on the short end of a couple of neutral floor losses at Acrisure Arena in California. It is looking to bounce back after a 69-52 loss to Santa Clara, and a narrow 76-72 OT loss to Colorado State. TCU is 0-6 ATSA in the past 6 outings since coming in the opener against FAMU back Nov. 4 The Under is 3-1 in the past 4 outings, too.
– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll
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Xavier at TCU odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college basketball odds. Lines last updated at 11:40 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Xavier -110 (bet $110 to win $100) | TCU -110 (bet $110 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Xavier -1.5 (+100) | TCU +1.5 (-120)
- Over/Under (O/U): 146.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Xavier at TCU picks and predictions
Prediction
TCU 75, Xavier 71
Moneyline
TCU (-110) is worth playing as a short ‘dog at home. The Horned Frogs dropped a couple of games in the high desert last time out in a tournament, but playing at home should snap TCU back into form.
Plus, Xavier (-110) looked awful against Michigan, and even worse against South Carolina State of the MEAC. If the Musketeers play at that level here, they’ll get their doors blown off.
Against the spread
It makes very little backing TCU +1.5 (-120) with the small amount of points, unless you’re absolutely convinced Xavier -1.5 (+100) is going to win, but only by a single point.
AVOID.
Over/Under
UNDER 146.5 (-110) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.
Xavier is driving this Under train, cashing low in 6 consecutive outings. It has allowed 68 or fewer points in 5 of those 6 contests, while going for 75 or fewer points in 4 of the previous 5 outings.
TCU is a slow, methodical offense, good for just 72.6 PPG, while shooting a dismal 43.2% from the field, and 32.1% from behind the 3-point line. It also leaves a lot of points on the floor thanks to a 59.1% mark at the free-throw line, one of the worst in the country. Under bettors love that.
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