Get ready for an intense rematch in Lubbock as the TCU Horned Frogs (18-7) take on the #23 Texas Tech Red Raiders (18-7) in a crucial Big 12 showdown. TCU snagged the first encounter back on January 30th (85-78), and Texas Tech, fueled by their home crowd, will be hungry for payback.
The Rankings Picture
Despite being just outside the AP Top 25, TCU is highly respected, sitting at #32 in the KenPom metric. Texas Tech, with their #23 AP ranking, will look to assert their national standing against a quality opponent.
Tale of Two Courts
Texas Tech boasts an intimidating 13-1 straight-up home record, but their 7-7 ATS mark introduces a hint of vulnerability. TCU has proven road grit, compiling a 5-3 record both straight-up and ATS away from home.
Injury Update: Warren Washington
Texas Tech forward Warren Washington is listed as questionable with a foot injury. His absence could impact the Red Raiders’ rebounding and interior presence.
Betting Spotlight
BetOnline has the Red Raiders as 5-point favorites with a total of 148. Texas Tech’s tendency to surpass game totals (16-9 record on the Over) adds intrigue to this dynamic.
Conference Standing Showdown
Both teams enter this crucial game at 7-5 in Big 12 play, locked in a battle for a top-five spot in the stacked conference. This win carries massive implications for NCAA Tournament seeding.
Learning from Defeat
Texas Tech fell to #10 Iowa State on the road, struggling mightily from the 3-point line. They missed their first seven attempts from deep and went without a 3-pointer for the first 13 minutes against the Cyclones, a trend they cannot afford to repeat against TCU.
Model Predictions
Our score prediction model presents a consistent outlook:
- Full Season Data: Texas Tech 80, TCU 70
- Recent Form (Last 7 Games): Texas Tech 86, TCU 74
The Verdict
Texas Tech will lean on their home-court dominance and try to avoid another slow start from beyond the arc. If Tech finds their shooting touch early, they might pull away, which is what we are banking on here as we like Tech to bounce back in a big way.