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TCU at Utah Football Betting & Odds

Written by Jimmy Boyd

The 11th ranked TCU Horned Frogs take on No. 10 Utah in a key Mountain West Conference matchup Thursday November 6th. The winner of this matchup takes a big step toward landing a Bowl Championship Series bid. Odds makers feel the Horned Frogs have the advantage, listing TCU as the early 2.5-point favorite.

Utah comes into this matchup undefeated at 9-0, sitting atop the MWC with a 5-0 mark. TCU is tied with Utah atop the MWC standings at 6-0 and is 9-1 on the season with its only loss coming to Oklahoma. The winners of this game will be putting itself in good position to win the conference and to secure a BCS Bowl bid. Utah is rated eighth in the latest BCS standing and the Horned Frogs 12th.

The Horned Frogs can clinch at least a share of their first MWC championship since 2005 with a win this week. After this game, TCU doesn’t play again until its regular-season finale on Nov. 22 at home against Air Force, which is tied with BYU for second place in the conference.

The Utes would still have a little more work to do as they still have a game with No. 17 BYU on November 22.

Playing at home has been huge for Utah though, as the Utes have now won nine straight home contests.

Prior to the season, BYU was picked as the favorite to win the MWC with Utah and TCU right behind. The Utes are off to their best start since 2004 and are looking to bring home that trophy. That 2004 team was special, winning the MWC title and beating Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl to finish the year 12-0. Utah will have to play better than it did last week in its 13-10 win over New Mexico if it homes to slay the Frogs.

Utah has not had many problems scoring the football this season, coming into that game ranked 12th in the nation in points per game (39.0 ppg), but the Utes struggled against New Mexico.

The Utes got their only touchdown when quarterback Brian Johnson threw a short pass to wide receiver Jereme Brooks, who then lateraled to Brent Casteel to score with 3:23 left in the third quarter. It was a sloppy game for Utah who muffed a punt and tallied nine penalties.

I expect a much better performance from Utah this week. QB Brian Johnson was 23 of 32 for 195 yards and one touchdown (one interception) in the win. Johnson and the Utes will have to do better than they did in their last meeting against TCU however.

Utah was held to only 227 total yards but still managed to come away with a 27-20 win last season. If you like the Utes to come out on top again, bet Utah at +2.5 at BetUS and receive up to a 50% sign up bonus.

TCU’s stout defense, ranking third in the nation in points allowed, second in the nation in total yards allowed, and first in rushing yards allowed, will have to be ready for a strong Utah running attack.

Utah has rolled up 520 yards on the ground over its last two games.

TCU comes into this contest having won five straight games by an average of 28.4 points per game since enduring its only defeat of the season to then-No. 2 ranked Oklahoma. TCU held UNLV to just 175 total yards in last Saturday’s 44-14 win.

The offense has come alive with a healthy Andrew Dalton back under center. Dalton threw for three touchdowns against UNLV and added 52 more yards on the dirt.

Dalton would like nothing more than to redeem himself after last season’s performance against the Utes. He was just 20 of 45 passing for only 164 yards and four interceptions.

Dalton comes into this one hot, passing for nine scores with no pick over the last three games.

TCU is going to have to overcome some bad history as the it has lost four of its last five meetings with the Utes. If you think the Horned Frogs will hand Utah its first loss of the season, bet TCU at -2.5 at BetUS.

Jimmy Boyd has made college football betting very enjoyable this season and is currently on a 12-6 run with his last 18 college football picks. If you’re looking for help beating the football odds, then you’ve come to the right place this week.

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Written by Jimmy Boyd on November 3, 2008 · Filed Under College Football Betting Articles, News & Previews

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