The NCAA Tournament is finally here and the first wave of games takes place on Thursday, March 19th. The TCU Horned Frogs and Buckeyes are the first teams to tip off in the big dance at 11:15 AM CT. The Horned Frogs are slight underdogs in this one and will have to overcome their first task with the Ohio State Buckeyes in order to advance to the Round of 32. Here’s a preview, prediction, key storylines, and updated odds to keep an eye on in this matchup as we get set for today’s game, the first one of the NCAA Tournament, tipping off on CBS.
TCU vs. Ohio State Basketball Updated Odds
The Buckeyes opened as a 2.5-point favorite over TCU, with an over/under of 145.5 total points. By Thursday morning, the line hasn’t moved, but the over/under has ticked up to 146 or 146.5 total points, depending on the sportsbook.
Key Storyline: Stars Galore
The matchups between 8 and 9 seeds in March Madness always seem to be a bit of a mixed bag. Sometimes it’s great, and sometimes it’s pretty outmatched, despite the seeds being so close. That isn’t the case for TCU vs. Ohio State as the stars have come out to play. Names like Bruce Thornton, John Mobley Jr., Devin Royal, David Punch, Brock Harding, Xavier Edmonds, and more will all clash in a matchup that’s sure to have plenty elements of drama and excitement.
Match Up to Watch: Ohio State Offense vs. TCU Defense
This game comes down to two solid units going toe-to-toe, with Ohio State’s offense vs. TCU’s defense. The Buckeyes had one of the Big Ten’s best units on offense, posting 79.8 points per game. A large portion of that comes from veteran guard Bruce Thornton, who’s averaging 20.2PPG, good for 30th-best in the nation. As for TCU, they’re an above average group in the Big 12, surrendering 72.1 points per contest. They’ll have to have a great gameplan in order to slow down the Buckeyes and handle their offensive attack.
Prediction: TCU 57, Ohio State 55
While the Horned Frogs enter the contest as underdogs, they should have a good shot at pulling off the upset. With the spread being just 2.5 points, Sportsbooks don’t see Ohio State as a lock by any means. In this game, a guy like David Punch should have an advantage on the low block. I expect TCU to have an advantage in the front court, which should propel them forward in a defensive slug fest. Give me the Horned Frogs to advance and continue dancing in March.
