Arizona State vs TCU Odds, Lines & Predictions (March 17)

• No. 6 TCU is set to take on No. 11 Arizona State in the first round of March Madness
• The Horned Frogs open up as favorites after the Sun Devils won their way in through the First Four
• See the TCU vs Arizona State odds and predictions ahead of tip off on Friday at 10:05 pm ET

While the No. 6 TCU Horned Frogs (21-12; 16-17 ATS) had to wait to figure out who they were going to play in the first round of March Madness, their tournament is ready to get underway.

And they’ll open up against the No. 11 Arizona State Sun Devils (22-12; 15-19 ATS). The Devils had to win their way in through the First Four on Wednesday night. Now they get a chance to participate in the Madness.

Action gets underway from Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, at 10:05 pm ET.

Arizona State vs TCU Odds

Not surprisingly, TCU opened up as -240 favorites. They’ve won three of their last five entering the tournament, including an upset over Kansas State in the Big 12 tournament. Three of the Horned Frogs last five games have gone over 140.

TCU is one of of three teams at +3500 in the odds to win March Madness. They’re also sitting at +1200 to come out of the Western Regional, which gives them the sixth-best odds.

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Defense Remains TCU Calling Card

Like a handful of teams in their Region, the Horned Frogs’ defense is among the best in the nation. KenPom ranks them 20th in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency, while offensively they sit 53rd.

TCU will be playing with a little bit of swagger, as this is the first time the program has played in back-to-back tournaments in 70 years. It’s also their third appearance in the last six seasons. They bounced Seton Hall last year but couldn’t make it through Arizona.

Nobody was more shocked to hear about the "Texas Froghorns" going dancing than the TCU Horned Frogs!@MikeMilesJr_: "Who'd he say!?" 🤣@FOX4 @TCUBasketball #GoFrogs pic.twitter.com/g0hL7zT5dV

— Jeff Kolb (@JeffKolbFOX4) March 13, 2023

Despite missing some time with a knee injury, Mike Miles Jr has had some outstanding performances this year. His best performance? When he dropped 33 against Baylor in January. He’s also shooting 35.4% from three-point range on a team that sits 343rd nationally, converting 29.6% of the time.

Even if Miller is a bit off, the Horned Frogs thrive when they’re scoring off the fast break. And the experience of head coach Jamie Dixon can’t be discounted.

Sun Devils Cruise Through First Four

Nevada didn’t prove to be much of a challenge for the Sun Devils. At one point on Wednesday night, Arizona State’s lead was as large as 30 points.

For ‘Zona it was the perfect storm of a dominant performance and the Wolf Pack just never looking ready. Nevada was shooting around 30% for most of the first half, and at one point was losing the turnover battled eight to one.

Arizona State forced 11 turnovers in total, swatted four blocks, and shot 64% from the floor and 52% from three.

Desmond Cambridge just hit the shot of the year to upset Arizona and maybe lift Arizona State into the NCAA Tournament: pic.twitter.com/C79g6A2efi

— Kevin Sweeney (@CBB_Central) February 25, 2023

Those numbers are important because they stray from the norm. They were 316th in terms of three-point percentage, and not much better (301st) overall from the floor.

Desmond Cambridge Jr. saved the Sun Devils season again, just in less dramatic fashion, leading them with 17points.

Do they have a repeat performance in store?

TCU vs Arizona State Pick

A lot went right for Arizona State on Wednesday night, and it seems like a tall task to expect that again.

Maybe they have a red-hot run of shooting in them when they were cold most of the year. The more likely outcome is that they revert to the norm, though.

And even with a somewhat balanced attack, they don’t have the efficiency to make it any deeper in the March Madness Bracket. It’ll be the Horned Frogs moving on to the weekend.

The Pick: TCU Horned Frogs -5.5 (-110)

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