The TCU Horned Frogs, the No. 9 seed in the East Region, are set to challenge the top-seeded Duke Blue Devils in the second round of March Madness on Saturday in Greenville, South Carolina, at 3:15 p.m. on CBS. The Horned Frogs (23-11) survived a second-half comeback by No. 8 Ohio State on Thursday to reach the Round of 32. Likewise, Duke (33-2) shoved off No. 16 Siena, which led throughout much of its first-round matchup with the Blue Devils on Thursday, to avoid one of several bracket-busting losses in the tournament’s opening round. Here’s a preview, prediction, odds and key storylines to get you ready for tipoff.
TCU vs. Duke Game Odds
Duke opened as a 12-point favorite to defeat TCU despite nearly coughing up its first-round contest to Siena, a 28.5-point underdog on Thursday. The over/under for today’s game opened at 142 points. As of Saturday afternoon, ahead of tip off, Duke is an 12.5-point favorite, and the over/under is down to 139.5 total points.
Key Storyline: Is Duke On High Alert?
The Boozer brothers got it together to narrowly avoid a historic upset by Siena on Thursday, and, without Caleb Foster, should there be more concern about just how deep the Blue Devils will go in this year’s tournament? TCU brings enough physicality to challenge and keep up with Duke, but they’re not exactly the best second-half team, having already dropped multiple ranked contests after leading at halftime. Jon Scheyer‘s squad is awake, no doubt, and will come into the arena prepared for another scare.
Match Up to Watch: Who Takes Out Boozer?
TCU can throw David Punch, Xavier Edmonds and Micah Robinson at Cameron Boozer, but, without a quality second half, how far does that get the Frogs? TCU enjoyed a fun day behind the arc against the Buckeyes on Thursday, but can a team that shoots the 3-ball at 33% dig up enough points from outside if Duke answers TCU in the paint? These are the questions entering the matchup, and what may ultimately decide the Frogs’ chance at upsetting the kingpin.
Prediction: Duke 78, TCU 72
Duke pushes on to the Sweet 16 but we get another quality day from TCU – a team that’s increasingly played up to its current stature after thumping Ohio State in the first half on Thursday and hanging around long enough to get a shot at a blue blood like Duke this weekend. TCU hasn’t passed the second round since 1968, when Johnny Swaim’s squad breached the Elite Eight.
