The Texas Tech Red Raiders (2-4) visit the TCU Horned Frogs (2-3) for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff Saturday at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Below, we analyze the Texas Tech-TCU college football betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Texas Tech at TCU: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 5:25 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Texas Tech +260 (bet $100 to win $260) | TCU -334 (bet $1334 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Texas Tech +9.5 (-106) | TCU -9.5 (-115)
- Over/Under: 61.5 (O: -106 | U: -115)
Texas Tech at TCU: Three things to know
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TCU visited Baylor and took care of business last week, beating the Bears 33-23 and covering the spread as 2.5-point road favorites. The Horned Frogs got out to a 30-0 first-half lead before taking their foot off the gas. TCU’s ground game was the deciding factor in the matchup as it rushed for 247 yards compared to Baylor’s 75 rushing yards.
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Texas Tech got crushed 62-28 by the Oklahoma Sooners last week. The Red Raiders were up 7-0 before Oklahoma scored six unanswered touchdowns, putting the game out of reach. Texas Tech didn’t help its own cause, committing 11 penalties for 85 yards and losing the turnover battle 3-0.
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These teams have played some strange head-to-head games over the years. Three of the last 10 Texas Tech-TCU contests have gone over 100 combined points. Four of the games have combined for 31, 30, 30 and 15 points. TCU won 33-31 last season, but these sides have split the previous four meetings.
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Texas Tech at TCU: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
TCU 34, Texas Tech 17
Money line (ML)
TCU (-334) is the side I’m on in this one but I am not paying that price for the Horned Frogs. Texas Tech (+260) has won five of the last 10 meetings between these teams so an upset is not out of the question. Let’s hit TCU on the spread and PASS ON THE MONEY LINE.
Against the spread (ATS)
I have all the faith in the world that TCU -9.5 (-115) can get to 30 points in this game but I am not sure Texas Tech (+9.5, -106) can. The Red Raiders have given up 30-plus points in five of their six games, including a 35-33 win over FCS Houston Baptist in the first game of the year. Furthermore, Texas Tech’s defense is ranked 113th in ESPN’s SP+ rankings.
Also, TCU’s edge in special teams (33rd-ranked SP+ special teams rating compared to Texas Tech’s 102nd ranking) and defense could give its offense short fields to work with. Texas Tech is minus-4 in turnover differential.
I expect TCU head coach Gary Patterson to take away Texas Tech’s run game and force its shaky quarterbacks to throw against a Horned Frogs secondary allowing the lowest completion percentage in the Big XII.
Texas Tech’s offensive line is 54th in line yards per carry and 71st in stuff rate, going against a TCU defensive line which ranks 22nd in opponent’s line yards per carry and 17th in stuff rate, according to Football Outsiders. TCU might not need to use many linebackers and safeties to help with the run.
BET TCU -9.5 (-115).
Over/Under (O/U)
TCU’s offense is pretty mediocre, with the Horned Frogs ranked 80th in the country in points per game, eighth (out of 10 teams) in yards per play in the Big XII and they’ve put up a couple of clunkers this year.
We are on TCU for its defense so I LEAN UNDER 61.5 (-115).
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