College Football Betting – TCU/BYU Preview @ Pick
Unlike World Series betting, college football is short on major matchups this week. With the big-name schools not playing particularly significant games, we turn to upstart TCU and BYU. Can TCU continue its improbable run and sneak into the BCS discussion?
(10) TCU Horned Frogs vs (16) BYU Cougars
Saturday, October 24, 7:30 p.m. ET
Team records:
TCU: 6-0 SU, 3-2 ATS
BYU: 6-1 SU, 3-4 ATS
Online betting favorite: TCU -2
Brigham Young has something to play for but let’s be honest — this game is all about TCU. If the Horned Frogs can run the table this season, they’ll vault themselves in major BCS game discussion. If not, they’ll let BYU back into the picture.
If TCU pulls off the road victory, it will be through defense. These guys are tough as nails, particularly Jerry Hughes. He had three sacks last week to up his total to eight for the season. Clearly, NFL betting fans and teams alike are taking notice. The Horned Frogs’ stingy group allows just 13.6 per game and it doesn’t pick its spots; it allowed just 10 points at Clemson and 14 at Virginia.
Though last week’s 44-point outburst against Colorado State looks good, TCU’s offense isn’t anything special. The Horned Frogs simply don’t move the chains that much; quarterback Andy Dalton averages just 203.8 yard per game and leading rusher Joseph Turner averages 66.5 yards on the ground.
Compare that to BYU’s stars. Pivot Max Hall needs to take better care of the ball, as he’s thrown 10 picks this season, but he’s also thrown for 16 touchdowns – twice as many as Dalton. Harvey Unga racks up 95.8 rushing yards per game and has hit pay dirt nine times. Hall, who proved his worth against tough competition like Oklahoma, loves to use Dennis Pitta, who leads the team in catches and touchdown receptions.
See the pattern forming? BYU is a mirror image of TCU. The Cougars counter TCU’s great defense with great offense and answer TCU’s lackluster offense with lackluster defense. BYU allows 22.3 points per game and got torched for 54 by Florida State of all teams.
The advantages seem to tilt in the home team’s favor here – as is the case with the Yankees’ World Series odds. The Cougars’ high-flying offense will find a way to score on TCU and, while BYU’s defense isn’t great, it won’t be pushed too hard by TCU’s offense, especially at home. Pick BYU to seriously wound TCU’s BCS hopes.
Pick: BYU +2
