(933) TCU Horned Frogs vs. (934) North Carolina Tar Heels
Line: TCU -3.5 -110 / 54.5 under -112
Time: 8:00 pm ET / 5:00 pm PT
Television: ESPN
There were some last season who wanted to pull the plug on TCU Head Coach Sonny Dykes, who started the 2024 campaign 3-3 while failing to cover in their first four games and seven of their first nine. From a bettor’s perspective, the Frogs started to gain some credibility after going into Salt Lake City and taking a 13-7 decision against the Utah Utes as a 3.5-point underdog. Dykes’ team ended the season by reeling off six wins in their final seven games, including a bowl win and cover against Louisiana-Lafayette (34-3). That quieted down some of the fan base that was ready to kick Dykes out of Fort Worth.
You can bet they’ll be back in full force if the Frogs go to Chapel Hill and fail to come away with a victory against Bill Belichick and the Tar Heels.
TCU had a terrific offseason, managing to hold off a mass exodus through the portal while also bringing in a strong recruiting class.
Dykes managed to keep defensive players away from the NFL, including LB Namdi Obiazor—one of the best against the run—and DB Bud Clark, who is reliable in both coverage and run support.
The Frogs’ strength on offense starts with quarterback Josh Hoover, who threw for 3,949 yards last season with 27 touchdowns against 11 interceptions—a single-season passing record.
I don’t love the Carolina running game, with Davion Gause getting the bulk of the carries. They lack the depth needed to close out games, and they’ll be facing a solid TCU defensive front with some of the best depth in the country.
There’s a reason why sharps aren’t falling for the Belichick hype.
Pick: TCU -3.5 (-110)