- Matchup: TCU Horned Frogs vs Ohio State Buckeyes
- Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026
- Venue: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, SC
- Broadcast: CBS
- Betting Odds: TCU (+3)
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In the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, the TCU Horned Frogs (22-11) will face off against the Ohio State Buckeyes (21-12) at Bon Secours Wellness Arena this Thursday. Ohio State enters as the 3-point favorite according to the latest lines from Vegas. The game total has been established at 146 points.
In their most recent outing, the TCU Horned Frogs faced a challenging matchup against Kansas, concluding with a 78-73 defeat. In terms of fouls, TCU recorded 23, while Kansas accumulated 13. The Frogs managed to connect on 4 of 17 attempts from beyond the arc. Kansas, on the other hand, achieved an impressive free throw percentage of 81.1%, making 30 of 37 attempts. They also secured 38 rebounds, including 9 offensive boards, and dished out 8 assists, alongside claiming 8 steals. Defensively, TCU allowed Kansas to shoot 37.9% from the field with 22 successful shots on 58 attempts. TCU had a total of 36 rebounds, with 10 being on the offensive end. They converted 14 of 18 free throw attempts for a solid 77.8% success rate and finished the game with a field goal percentage of 39.1% (25 of 64) and 9 three-pointers from 25 attempts.
Key player David Punch was instrumental in the game, scoring 24 points from 8 of 15 shooting, alongside grabbing 10 rebounds in 34 minutes of play. He also contributed with 1 assist and shot efficiently at 53.3% from the field.
Currently, TCU holds a record of 22-11 for the season, averaging 78.3 points per game, ranking 114th nationally. Their shooting efficiency stands at 44.8% from the field, with a three-point percentage of 33.1% (244 out of 737). At the charity stripe, they are making 70.8% of their free throw attempts. As a team, TCU grabs an average of 36.2 rebounds per game and boasts a total of 516 assists this season, placing them 70th in the nation for assists per game. They commit an average of 10.9 turnovers and approximately 16.3 personal fouls each game.
On the defensive end, the Horned Frogs force an average of 13.8 turnovers per game and draw around 19.0 fouls. They rank 337th in Division 1 for assists allowed to opponents, having surrendered 522 assists this season. TCU’s defense permits an opponents’ shooting percentage of 44.6% (856 of 1,920), and they allow 33.5 rebounds per game collectively. Additionally, they let opponents convert 33.7% of their three-point attempts and rank 126th in points allowed per game at 72.1.
In their last outing, the Ohio State Buckeyes faced a narrow defeat, falling 71-67 to Michigan. The Buckeyes collected 21 defensive rebounds and 9 offensive boards for a total of 30 rebounds in the game. They lost the ball 10 times but managed to earn 6 steals. Michigan committed 16 fouls during the match, leading to 18 free throw attempts for the Buckeyes, who converted 15 for an 83.3% success rate. Ohio State struggled from beyond the arc, hitting 8 of 24 attempts (33.3%) and finished with a field goal percentage of 37.9%, going 22 for 58. Michigan shot effectively, connecting on 24 of 53 shots from the field (45.3%), and the Buckeyes allowed 31 total rebounds, including 6 on the offensive boards.
Bruce Thornton was a significant contributor for Ohio State, scoring 20 points in 39 minutes, while providing 4 assists. His field goal efficiency was 42.9%, making 6 of 14 attempts, and he also recorded 3 rebounds.
Ohio State comes into this game with a current record of 21-12 for the season. Offensively, the Buckeyes are shooting a notable 49.3% from the field, ranking 19th nationally, and they have accumulated 2,633 total points this season (79.8 points per game). They average 33.2 rebounds and provide 14.4 assists per game (137th in the nation), with an average of 10.4 turnovers. Ohio State’s fouls per game sit at 17.7, and they are proficient from the free throw line, shooting 77.5%.
The defense of Ohio State allows opponents to convert 31.6% of their three-point attempts (242 of 765) and permits 74.3% from the free throw line. They give up approximately 13.5 assists and 31.2 rebounds each game, ranking them 190th and 29th in Division 1, respectively. Currently, Ohio State ranks 146th in points allowed per game at 72.8. They are able to force an average of 10.6 turnovers and allow teams to shoot at a rate of 43.9% from the field, positioning them 163rd in Division 1.
Will TCU cover the spread in tonight’s NCAA matchup?
Prediction: Choose TCU (+3)
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