Duke vs. TCU game preview, odds, prediction (NCAA Tournament)

At halftime of its first-round matchup against Ohio State, it looked like TCU would waltz into the second round with an easy win over the Buckeyes, holding a 15-point lead as the Horned Frogs entered the locker room.

Instead, it took a basket by Xavier Edmonds with four seconds left to help Jamie Dixon’s squad escape with a two-point win over the Buckeyes. Their reward? A matchup against the top overall seed, Duke, in the second round.

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The Horned Frogs don’t plan on changing how they play, though.

“I feel like we’re just going to stick with our same mentality of just doing what we do, and we feel like the rest will kind of take care of itself,” Micah Robinson said.

Robinson led TCU with 18 points in the opening-round win, while Edmonds added 16 points, including the game-winner. David Punch put up a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds, and along with Edmonds, will face their toughest battle of the year against ACC Player of the Year, Cameron Boozer.

“I think he’s a lot like us, just how he creates his shots,” Punch said. “I’m excited to see me and X go up against him. It’s a great opportunity for me and him to showcase how good we are on a stage like that.”

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Odds

(Via Betonline.ag)

Spread: Duke -11.5

Moneyline: Duke -770, TCU +543

Over/Under: -110

Game Prediction

Duke can’t afford another slow start like against Siena, and the close game against the Saints might have been a wake-up call for this team. An inside battle between Boozer and the combination of Punch and Edmonds will be exciting to watch, but for the Blue Devils to make this into another easy walk in the park, Isaiah Evans, Cayden Boozer and Dame Sarr will have to play well.

Siena got Duke’s attention. That is bad news for the Horned Frogs.

PREDICTION: Duke 78, TCU 65

This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Duke vs. TCU game preview, odds, prediction (NCAA Tournament)

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Publish date : 2026-03-21 14:00:00

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