The TCU Horned Frogs and Colorado Buffaloes open their 2022 seasons Friday at Folsom Field in Boulder. Kickoff is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the TCU vs. Colorado odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
TCU comes into 2022 under new coach Sunny Dykes with something to prove. After Gary Patterson was known to be on his way out last season, the TCU team completely gave in hoping to live another day. The new day and new energy start Friday against Colorado, which has the real potential to finish winless.
While TCU has seen an influx of both players and enthusiasm this offseason, Colorado has seen a leak of talent from their roster through the transfer portal.
RB Jarek Broussard, the 2020 Pac-12 leading rusher (895 yards) followed his former coach Mel Tucker to Michigan State – Tucker left Colorado for MSU after the 2019 season. On defense, star cornerback Christian Gonzalez, a projected first-round draft pick, left for conference foe Oregon. With two of their top players from last season gone, it could be a colder winter than normal in Boulder … and it’s likely to start in September.
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TCU at Colorado odds
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:39 a.m. ET.
- Money line (ML): TCU -520 (bet $520 to win $100) | Colorado +400 (bet $100 to win $400)
- Against the spread (ATS): TCU -13.5 (-112) | Colorado +13.5 (-108)
- Over/Under (O/U): 58.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)
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TCU at Colorado picks and predictions
Prediction
TCU 42, Colorado 20
Money line
PASS.
I love TCU here, but the -520 money line is far too high. I would rather make a strong play ATS instead of laying 520 to only win 100.
Against the spread
TCU -13.5 (-112) is the way to go.
TCU had a down season in 2021 which led to the firing of longtime coach Gary Patterson. With the defensive-minded Patterson out and offensive-minded Dykes taking over, the offense should be explosive.
The defense could still be a rather solid group headed by new defensive coordinator Joe Gillespie, who comes in from Tulsa. With the potential of both offensive firepower and a good enough defense, TCU will cover this large spread. Even on the road.
Over/Under
BET OVER 58.5 (-108).
Everything about this game screams Over. A talented offense, a below- average defense and the first game of the season in which both teams will not know what to expect from the other. Although many teams find traveling to the altitude in Boulder difficult, against this Colorado team, TCU should have no trouble scoring. It would have been nice to play this Thursday when the line was 55.5, but I’m still figuring on the Horned Frogs and Buffaloes reaching 60-plust points.
OVER 58.5 (-108) is my FAVORITE PLAY.
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