TCU vs Arizona Prediction, Picks, and Odds for Tonight’s College Basketball Game

Caleb Love is beginning to heat up after a difficult start to the season, and TCU won't cause many problems for the Senior.

Phil Naessens - Betting Analyst at Covers.com
Phil Naessens • Betting Analyst
Dec 30, 2024 • 09:21 ET • 4 min read
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This article contains predictions for an old game!

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Caleb Love Arizona Wildcats NCAAB
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Get ready for the Big 12 Conference season opener when the Arizona Wildcats welcome the TCU Horned Frogs to McKale Memorial Center. 

Arizona guard Caleb Love is beginning to heat up, and my TCU vs. Arizona predictions expect Love’s hot hand to continue tonight. 

Read on for my college basketball picks for Monday, December 30.

TCU vs Arizona prediction

My best bet
Caleb Love Over 17.5 points (-105 at bet365)

My analysis
Caleb Love is heating up. 

The Arizona Wildcats senior guard has underwhelmed for much of the season but has scored 23+ points in his last two games. He'll need a big scoring night for the Wildcats to defeat the TCU Horned Frogs.

That’s because it isn’t only Love that’s been underwhelming offensively, but the entire Arizona team has ridden the struggle bus. They drain 48% of their shots inside the arc and a measly 30% from downtown.

Love and the Wildcats have played a difficult schedule thus far, but Love can score 18+ against an inexperienced group.

TCU has just one returning rotation player from last season. Although it's played decently and defended well, it gets lit up by every Top 25 KenPom team, and Love can dazzle from anywhere.

Arizona plays fast, and Love is the main guy for the Wildcats. He can take it to the rack or drain a mid-range jumper. He’s not the best shooter from downtown, but he’s knocked down six of his last 17 and is shooting well below his career 32% mark.

TCU won’t likely double-team Love much, and he’s too good an offensive player to be contained in man-to-man coverage.

TCU vs Arizona same-game parlay

Caleb Love Over 17.5 points

Caleb Love Over 4.5 rebounds

Under 153.5

I like Love to have a big scoring night, and when he does, his rebound totals also usually rise.

Love has begun to assert himself on the glass and has snagged five or more caroms in three of his last five. He’ll have a size advantage tonight and I expect him to be aggressive on the glass.

Tonight’s clash features two of the best defenses. Since both offenses have underwhelmed, I chose the Under 153.5 alternate number. 

These offenses might reach 147 points, but they won’t come close to 154, with TCU playing as slowly and defending as well as it does.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout

Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game CBB moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your school goes up by 18+ points!

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TCU vs Arizona odds

TCU vs Arizona live odds

TCU vs Arizona opening odds

  • Spread: TCU +14.5 | Arizona -14.5
  • Moneyline: TCU +700 | Arizona -1100
  • Over/Under: Over 146.5 | Under 146.5

Odds courtesy of bet365

TCU vs Arizona betting trend to know

Arizona has hit the game total Under in 16 of its last 23 games at home (+8.40 Units / 33% ROI). Find more college basketball betting trends for TCU vs. Arizona.

How to watch TCU vs Arizona

Location: McKale Memorial Center, Tucson, AZ
Date: Monday, 12-30-2024
Tip-off: 8:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN+

TCU vs Arizona key injuries

Not intended for use in MA.
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Phil Naessens
Betting Analyst

Prior to joining Covers in 2022, Phil Naessens spent 38 years as a resident tennis pro in Las Vegas, Mykonos, and Corfu Greece. He’s the past host of the Phil Naessens Show (Armed Forces Radio), and currently hosts the tennis betting podcast, This Week in Tennis.

Phil is the author of the Betting 101 series (MLB, NFL, NCAAF, and Tennis) and has written for numerous publications including SB Nation, FanSided and Lenny Melnick Fantasy Sports. Phil curates the Chip and Charge Tennis Newsletter and pens a weekly tennis column called “10 Things About the ATP Tour," for Passing Shot Productions. 

His favorite sports to bet on are tennis, MLB, WNBA, Euro men’s and women’s hoops, NCAA sports, NFL, and the NBA. Phil has numerous betting accounts in the US and Europe and his best advice is to line shop for the best value possible.

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