Duke vs TCU Prediction & Picks - NCAA Basketball

Prediction published on 3/21/26, 1:57 PM  by Travis Pulver | Modified on 3/24/26 at 6:37 AM in NCAA Basketball Picks

The TCU Horned Frogs (23-11) will take on the Tournament’s No. 1 seed, the Duke Blue Devils, in second-round action for the East Region, on Saturday, March 21, at 5:15 p.m. EST at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC. Fans can follow the action on CBS.

Duke opened as a 12.5-point favorite, but the line has since shifted down to -11.5. Was the shift because of confidence in the Horned Frogs to pull off an upset or because of how poorly the Blue Devils played in their Tournament opener against Sienna? As of Friday night, about 93% of moneyline tickets were on Duke and just 7% on TCU. But 34% of the handle is on the Horned Frogs, as well as 53% of spread tickets. Can TCU knock the No. 1 seed out? If the Horned Frogs can play their game, i.e., force turnovers, fast break buckets, and offensive rebounds, it is possible. However, Duke is a beast on the defensive glass and seldom turns the ball over.

But if Duke comes out flat, expecting a cake walk as they did in the first round against Sienna. It may seem improbable, but it is certainly not impossible.