Oral Roberts Golden Eagles vs TCU Horned Frogs Picks & Predictions for Thursday December 18 2025
Use Code PPWC
The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles head to Fort Worth to face the TCU Horned Frogs on Thursday, December 18, 2025. Tip-off is set for 8:00 PM ET at Schollmaier Arena, and the game will be streamed on ESPN+. For more daily plays, check out these free college basketball picks.
Oral Roberts Golden Eagles: Can ORU Keep It Close in Fort Worth?
Oral Roberts comes into this matchup at 5-8 and 0-5 away. The Golden Eagles are coming off a heartbreaker on 12/16/25, falling 63-62 at Missouri State, but they’ve mixed in a couple of wins recently, including a 97-52 win vs Ecclesia (12/13/25) and a 72-68 win vs Montana State (12/6/25). The flip side is the losses have been lopsided at times, like the 92-66 loss at Weber State (12/3/25) and an 81-62 loss vs Rice (11/26/25).
From a team-stats standpoint, ORU is scoring 76.5 PPG and allowing 77.5 PPG while shooting 43% from the field. They pull down 34.3 rebounds per game, but the offense hasn’t been especially fluid with 11.4 assists. Defensively, they’re at 3.4 blocks and 6.8 steals, so they can make some plays—just not consistently enough to cover up the defensive leaks.
The guy who drives the bus is Ty Harper, who leads Oral Roberts with 16.8 PPG on 42.6% shooting and 81.0% from the line. The preview notes he’s coming in after a 20-point game, and if ORU has any chance of cashing a big number, it probably starts with Harper staying aggressive for 40 minutes.
Sign Up Get $30 Premium Picks Credit + Exclusive Offers
Subscribe Now
TCU Horned Frogs: The Frogs’ Defense Sets the Tone
TCU enters at 7-3 and 4-3 at home, and they’ve won two straight. The Horned Frogs beat Incarnate Word 69-65 on 12/15/25 and went on the road to beat North Texas 65-55 on 12/7/25. Before that, they dropped a tight one in OT vs Notre Dame, 87-85 (12/5/25), but they also have quality wins like 74-63 vs Wisconsin (11/28/25) and 84-80 vs Florida (11/27/25).
Statistically, TCU is scoring 77.7 PPG while allowing just 66.8 PPG, and they’re shooting 45% from the field. On the glass they’re at 34.9 rebounds, and they move it better than ORU with 15.1 assists per game. Where they really separate is on the defensive activity: 5.3 blocks and 8.4 steals, which supports that strong points-allowed number.
Their top scorer is David Punch, putting up 13.8 PPG while shooting 56.0% from the field. If TCU’s defense turns this into a choppy, uncomfortable night for ORU, Punch’s efficiency becomes even more valuable.
Key Points To Watch For
- TCU’s defense vs ORU’s offense: TCU allows 66.8 PPG, while ORU gives up 77.5 PPG—that’s a big two-way edge for the Frogs.
- Turnover/pressure potential: TCU’s 8.4 steals and 5.3 blocks suggest they can create extra possessions and easy points.
- Road woes: Oral Roberts is 0-5 away, and now they’re stepping up in class on the road.
- Spread vs total math: A -24.5 spread with a 149.5 total implies a potential runaway if TCU dictates the pace and ORU’s efficiency dips.
Oral Roberts Golden Eagles vs TCU Horned Frogs Pick
My best pick is TCU -24.5. I’m laying the big number because TCU’s defensive profile (66.8 PPG allowed, plus 5.3 blocks and 8.4 steals) matches perfectly against an Oral Roberts team that’s been inconsistent and is 0-5 away. If TCU’s pressure creates runouts and easy baskets, this can get out of hand quickly.
My lean is Under 149.5. I’m leaning under because TCU has shown they can keep opponents in check (that 66.8 PPG allowed stands out), and a game where ORU struggles to score efficiently makes it hard for the total to sail past the high-140s.
If TCU controls the defensive end the way the numbers suggest, the Frogs should cover while the scoring stays more manageable than the total implies. Betting on sports and on Oral Roberts is easy, but even easier if you use the best sportsbooks. Make sure you know about how the fans are looking on prediction markets for TCU with the Novig promo code. Make sure when you place your bet on Oral Roberts vs TCU you are using the BetMGM bonus code.
Final Score Prediction:
TCU 88, Oral Roberts 60
Betting on College Basketball?
- Join Picks and Parlays premium for free and get a free $30 coupon with code FREE30
- Get started and wager on college hoops today with our favorite online sportsbooks
- Claim a CBB betting bonus offer with the best sportsbook promos
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
New Users – Bet $5 Get $200 in Bet Reset Tokens for 5 Days
New DraftKings Customers: Spend $5+ Get $200 in Bonuses Instantly!
