With other Top 10 teams falling around them over the course of the last few weeks, the TCU Horned Frogs have to feel really good about where they sit heading into the second half of their season. They've got a really dangerous road ahead against the West Virginia Mountaineers on Thursday night though, a game which could very easily derail their season.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Horned Frogs are laying points for sure, but they probably aren't giving quite as many as you would've thought against an unranked team. Last week was odd for bettors, knowing that three teams ranked in the Top 10 were laying single digits - and in the case of Utah, was actually an underdog - against unranked foes.
That said, maybe it shouldn’t be shocking that TCU is only -14 against a WVU team which many believe is far better than its 3-3 record suggests.
KEY MISMATCH
Shelton Gibson might only have 23 catches this season, but the fact that he's averaging 23.5 yards per catch and has six touchdowns to lead the Mountaineers is notable. Skyler Howard has built up a good rapport with Gibson, his leading target, and that could be dangerous for the TCU secondary.
The Horned Frogs are allowing a modest 6.6 yards per pass attempt, yet they're conceding 12.6 yards per completion, numbers which suggest the deep ball is a legit possibility against this secondary.
KEY STAT
51.1 – The completion percentage the West Virginia defense is allowing this year, second-best in the Big XII.
Last year, Trevone Boykin had all sorts of trouble trying to throw the ball against these Mountaineers, going just 12-of-30 for 166 yards with a TD and a pick. He'll need to be better than that this time around to keep TCU's undefeated season going.
BETTING ANGLE
These two teams have only met three times as members of the Big XII, and the results have been awfully exciting. In two of the three cases, the game needed overtime to be sorted out, while the third last year was won by TCU by a single point. The total margin of victory in the three games is just five points, thus it shouldn't be shocking that the underdog team has covered each of the three.
The road team is also 3-0 SU in those games, something which gives hope to a West Virginia side which won here at Amon G. Carter Stadium 30-27 back in 2013 as an 11-point dog.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Horned Frogs have actually outdone all of their foes both on the ground and in the air in every game they've played since losing to Baylor last year. That’s an incredible accomplishment and a testament to just how well-balanced this team has been.
This though, is a dangerous game. Bettors are going to look at these last few games and see that West Virginia was destroyed by Baylor and Oklahoma to go with an overtime loss against Oklahoma State and think that the world is coming to an end.
Instead, we think that Howard and company are going to stick quite a fright into the Horned Frogs to kick off the Halloween weekend. TCU will survive, but it isn't going to be easy. Take the points.
TCU 38, West Virginia 30
The college football lines for this Thursday game surfaced at BookMaker before anywhere else on the internet. The TCU Horned Frogs opened up on Sunday at -14. Gamble on the game between every commercial break with BookMaker's live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen on the next play or how many points will be scored in the next quarter. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The duel between the West Virginia Mountaineers and the TCU Horned Frogs will take place at Amon G. Carter Stadium on Thursday, October 29, 2015. This 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff can be seen live on FOX Sports 1.
