Cal-State Bakersfield vs. TCU 11/7/18, Prediction & Odds

Cal-State Bakersfield vs. TCU Prediction

The TCU Horned Frogs are looking to build off last season's success when they advanced to the NCAA Tournament as they start the season tonight versus Cal-State Bakersfield. Will 20th-ranked TCU cover the spread as the home favorites against the Roadrunners?

Game Snapshot

30710 Cal-State Bakersfield at 30711 Texas Christian

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena at 9:05PM ET

TV: None

Compare odds from multiple different online sportsbooks and shop for the best lines at our College Basketball Odds & Betting Page.

 

Public Betting Information

According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, the Horned Frogs are an 18-point favorite on the spread line. The total is set at 142 points. As of Wednesday morning, 61 percent of public bets are being placed on host TCU. Check out our College Basketball Public Betting Page for the latest info.

Roadrunners need more offensive efficiency

Cal-State Bakersfield will be looking to be better offensively this season after averaging only 97.3 points per 100 possessions last season, good for only 308th nationally. The Roadrunners allowed 103.9 points per 100 possessions, which was more in the middle of the pack at 157th in the nation. The 2017-18 season ended with a 12-18 record and a first round departure in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament with an 81-74 loss to Utah Valley. Cal-State Bakersfield does return its leading scorer from last season in guard Damiyne Durham (12.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.4 apg), while fellow guard Jarkel Joiner (10.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg) also returns.

TCU enters season with hype

The Horned Frogs are on a nice trajectory the last couple seasons after winning the NIT Tournament in 2016 and then going 21-12 while advancing to the NCAA Tournament last season. After falling to Syracuse by a count of 57-52 in the first round against Syracuse, TCU will look to build on that this season. The Horned Frogs were ninth nationally in adjusted efficiency last season (119.7) and 100th in defensive adjusted efficiency (101.2). Texas Christian returns its top scorer in 6-foot-11 forward Vladimir Brodziansky (15.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and he'll be joined by a slew of other contributors for a program on the rise under head coach Jamie Dixon.

College Basketball Betting Trends

Cal-State Bakersfield

The Roadrunners are 22-8 ATS in their last 30 games overall. Cal-State Bakersfield is 4-1 ATS in its last five road games.

TCU

The Horned Frogs are 4-1 ATS in their last five home games. Texas Christian is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 Wednesday games.

Prediction:

Last season, Texas Christian played a similarly ranked opponent in Louisiana-Monroe in its season opener and only won by 10. While the Horned Frogs might be even better this season, the season opener is usually a feeling out process and 18 is a big spread to cover. Cal-State Bakersfield is going to lean on its defense and hope to get enough stops to hang in there. With the Horned Frogs not having an elite defense, I think the Roadrunners can find their way to enough points to stay within the number.

PREDICTION: CAL-STATE BAKERSFIELD +14