TCU vs. BYU Football Betting Odds & Spread

Written October 14, 2008 by Jason Lowry

Editors Note: Jason Lowry has his NCAA Thursday Night Game of the Week going in this one!

This weekend the #9 ranked BYU Cougars (6-0) will face their toughest road game of the year when they travel to Texas to take on the TCU Horned Frogs (6-1) in what should be a great Mountain West matchup. While TCU ’s loss to Oklahoma knocked them out of the BCS picture, there is still a chance that BYU can run the table and find its self playing in one of the big bowl games this season. But they have to win this week if they want any shot of that, and the oddsmakers don’t think it will be to easy, as BYU comes in just 1.5 point favorites over TCU at Sportsbook.com

BYU has really played well to start the season, and minus the scare at Washington early in the season this team hasn’t really let anyone else even stay close. That will likely change this weekend, and it will be up to the Cougars offense to keep going this weekend. Quarterback Max Hall has picked apart defenses this season throwing for over 1850 yards and has already piled up 20 touchdowns to just 4 interceptions. Even with all the success through the air the running game, as running back Harvey Unga has 550 yards on the ground and 8 total touchdowns. Junior Austin Collie leads the way receiving with 880 yards and 8 scores, and has scored in every game but the opener. The key in this one will be getting the running game going, and using Collie to beat the Horned Frogs deep.

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The BYU defense has played well this season, as its holding teams to just a little over 10 points a game, and has already shut two teams out this season. In their last game against New Mexico the defense really helped out as the offense struggled to get it going. The Cougars did give up 415 yards, but when the other team puts up only 3 points its hard to complain about the job this unit is doing. The key this week will be stopping the running game of TCU that features the duo of Marcus Jackson and Joseph Turner. Bet BYU -1.5 at Sportsbook.com

Now just as its important for the Cougars to stop the running game, if TCU wants to pull off the upset this week, they have to get the duo Jackson and Joseph rolling. While Jackson has done the more damage per carry yardage wise, Turner is the guy pounding the ball in the endzone, as he has 9 rushing touchdowns already this season. The Horned Frogs really aren’t going to beat you with the pass, and season starter Andy Dalton missed another game nursing a right ankle injury. Marcus Jackson has done an okay job stepping in, but its likely if Dalton is ready he will get the snaps.

As good as the BYU defense has played this season, there are many that think the TCU defense is one of the best in the whole country, as they have shut every team but Oklahoma who scored just 35 points, which is pretty good considering they have been scoring over 50 on about everyone else. The only problem we see for this game is if you look at the success Sam Bradford had throwing for 411 yards and 4 scores, there has to be some concern that Hall will put up those same kind of numbers. Look for this one to be a dog fight from start to finish. Bet TCU +1.5 at Sportsbook.com

For even more on the NCAA games this weekend, check out the the latest football odds, and some great free football picks from Betfirms.

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