The No. 3 team in NCAAF standings, the TCU Horned Frogs, face off against the Michigan Wolverines in the Fiesta Bowl. This is one of the NCAAF games that will decide who will advance to the national championship, making the stakes even higher.
Two of the best teams in the country battle it out; one is sporting a top-25 offense, while the other boasts a top-10 defense. Our experts give the best TCU vs Michigan prediction, along with bets, to make this bowl season profitable.
Last Game Records
The two teams have never faced each other, despite their long history. However, Michigan’s long dynasty outshines TCU’s tenfold. Michigan is one of the best football programs in college football history, securing 989 wins of all time, an NCAAF record. They are 2nd in national championships with 11 and 2nd in total weeks in the AP Top 25 poll. Despite their NCAAF schedule, they still remain one of the most dominant teams in sports history.
Although Michigan is historically incredible, TCU is no slouch. Their bowl game win percentage is actually higher than the Wolverines, with a 51.5% win rate compared to Michigan’s 42.9%.
TCU Horned Frogs vs. Michigan Wolverines Odds
TCU vs Michigan Betting Analysis
Due to the powerful defense and great offense, Michigan is generally considered the favorite. TCU has not been seen on this high of a stage in a very long time, so they will automatically be considered lesser in NCAAF odds. However, the over/under will be quite high due to the incredible offensive ability of both teams, making the NCAAF picks a bit more enticing.
TCU Analysis
The TCU offense is led by the quarterback and running back duo, Heisman finalist Max Duggan and scoring machine Kendre Miller. Duggan was the fan favorite for the Heisman trophy, with a combined 3700 total yards and 36 total touchdowns with only four interceptions.
Kendre Miller is one of the best running backs in college football, with 1300 yards and 17 rushing touchdowns. He also contributed just over 100 receiving yards on the season, showing his versatility.
Michigan Analysis
J.J. McCarthy is to Michigan what Max Duggan is to TCU. He may not have as many impressive numeral statistics, but his impact is unmatched. His 2600 total yards are paired with 24 total touchdowns and only three interceptions.
If Kendre Miller is one of the best backs in college football, Blake Corum is a step ahead. His almost 1500 yards on the ground and 18 touchdowns just beat out Miller, but with a bit of a higher workload.
Updates (both teams)
Both teams are very healthy, meaning the college football injuries list is almost completely empty. This makes the TCU vs Michigan predictions and picks much more straightforward.
TCU vs. Michigan Betting Preview
Michigan is a clear favorite at -7.5, which is reasonable due to its impressive season performance. This makes the moneyline drastically different, with Michigan sitting pretty at -305 while TCU sits behind at +255. However, unrelated to the favorite, the over/under stays at 58.5.
TCU Horned Frogs vs. Michigan Wolverines Betting Prediction
Although Michigan is known for its impressive two-way ability, TCU is going to keep the game close. However, similarly to how Cincinnati lost by a few scores to Alabama last year, the Horned Frogs will lose by more than just a touchdown.
Michigan’s -7.5 is the best bet.
However, if you are going to pick on the over/under, the over 58.5 is a great pick. Both teams are top 30 on the offensive end, and both average 40 points per game. Although we don’t expect an 80-point game, 60 is well within range.
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