TCU vs Iowa State Odds, Picks and Predictions: Horned Frogs Ready For Battle

The TCU Horned Frogs take on the Iowa State Cyclones in an important Big 12 conference game at James H. Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa Wednesday night.

TCU enters as a Top 25 team despite sitting at 6-6 inside the conference, and just 4-5 on the road. It’s also on a three-game losing and non-cover skid since its last win January 31.

Iowa State is also a ranked team looking to get untracked. It has dropped two in a row, and four of the past five games, while going just 1-6 ATS in the past seven contests overall.

These teams met previously in Fort Worth on January 7, with the Cyclones eking out a 69-67 win as 5.5-point underdogs as the Over just came through.

Will ISU be able to complete the season sweep, or will the Horned Frogs exact a little revenge in Ames? We’ll discuss in our college basketball picks and predictions for TCU vs. Iowa State.

TCU vs Iowa State best odds

TCU vs Iowa State picks and predictions

In the first meeting on January 7, Iowa State shot an impressive 53% (31-for-59) from the field to mask an ugly day from behind the arc and at the free-throw line. The Cyclones won despite going 25% (4-for-16) from downtown, and 33% (3-for-9) from the charity stripe.

Iowa State outrebounded TCU by a 30-to-25 margin, too, while TCU turned it over five more times. As long as the Cyclones are able to take good care of the basketball while improving their shooting from deep and at the free-throw line, they should be able to complete the sweep.

TCU was actually quite impressive from downtown in the first matchup, hitting 47% from behind the 3-point line (7-for-15). but struggled at the charity stripe on 16 of 28 shootiing. Turnovers were the key, as the Horned Frogs had 18, which is just too many, especially against a top-tier opponent.

Mike Miles Jr. was really the only player who showed up, going for a team-best 18 points, while hitting for seven points from the line. Damion Baugh was pretty sharp with 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists, but he also turned it over six times which is just unacceptable in 38 minutes.

Iowa State has won the past two meetings in this series, but the average margin of victory is 2.5 points per game. In fact, nine of the past 10 meetings in this series have been decided by single digits, with six of the past eight games decided by four or fewer points.

With that long-term track history, and the fact the first game was decided by just two points, you have to roll with TCU catching four and a hook.

My best bet: TCU +4.5 (-110 at PointsBet)

TCU vs Iowa State spread analysis

The Horned Frogs check into Wednesday’s game with some ugly numbers against the spread. TCU is 1-4 ATS in the past five games overall, while cashing at just a 1-4 ATS clip in the past five against winning teams.

It's managed to avoid long spells without covers, though, going 6-2 ATS in the past eight games after a non-cover, while going 7-2 ATS in the past nine games after a straight up loss.

Iowa State has really struggled against the number, too, going just 1-6 ATS in the past seven games overall, while also going a dismal 1-6 ATS in the past seven against teams with a winning overall record.

The Cyclones are just 1-4 ATS in the past five games after a non-cover, and to make matters worse for the, in terms of the trends, the road team is 5-0 ATS in the past five meetings, with the underdog also hitting at a 5-0 ATS clip.

We touched on the close games in the recent history of this series, so that coupled with the series trends squarely point to a TCU cover.

TCU vs Iowa State Over/Under analysis

The Cyclones are a horrific 3-point shooting team, connecting at just a 28.5% clip to rank No. 358 in the nation. They make up for it by shooting well close to the basket, hitting at a 46.3% clip while going for 76.2 ppg.

Defensively, ISU is hard on the triple while limiting the opposition to just 66.8 ppg. The Under is 19-9 in the past 28 games overall for the Cyclones, but the Over is 12-4 in the past 16 games against teams with a winning record.

The Over has cashed at a 7-3 clip in the past 10 road games for TCU, while going 8-3 in the past 11 against teams with a winning overall record, too.

TCU has racked up 76.2 ppg, which ranks in the Top 75 in the nation, but it can leave a lot of points on the table with poor 3-point shooting and poor free-throw shooting — hitting just 71.3% from the charity stripe.

Bet the Over, but go lightly. The side is so much more attractive in this Big 12 matchup.

TCU vs Iowa State betting trend to know

The underdog is 5-0 ATS in the past five meetings in this series, with the road team also cashing at a 5-0 ATS clip during the same stretch. Find more college basketball betting trends for TCU vs. Iowa State.

TCU vs Iowa State game info

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