Game of the Day: TCU at Texas
TCU Horned Frogs at Texas Longhorns (+6.5, 55)
Fifth-ranked TCU and host Texas roll into their Thanksgiving Day meeting on win streaks. While the Longhorns are playing well and already bowl-eligible, the Horned Frogs have bigger goals in their sights. TCU is in striking distance of a College Football Playoff berth and can claim at least a share of its first Big 12 Conference title with two more wins.
"You don't get very many chances to win championships," TCU coach Gary Patterson told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram last week. "I know our fan base would love to be in the playoffs, and so would we. But for us, right now, the best way to do that is to win a conference title." Trevone Boykin leads a TCU offense - ranked second nationally in points scored at 45.9 - that is the nation's most improved. Texas has been solid defensively during its three-game win streak, allowing a combined 36 points.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1.
LINE HISTORY: Oddsmakers opened the Frogs as 6.5-point road faves. The total has dropped to 55 from the opening 56.5.
INJURY REPORT: TCU - RB B.J. Catalon (Questionable, upper body). Texas - WR Jaxon Shipley (Probable, leg), WR Armanti Foreman (Out, head).
WEATHER FORECAST: Temperatres are expected to be in the mid-50s with wind blowing across the field at 3 mph.
WHAT CAPPERS SAY: "When the season began in August, the look ahead advance line was Texas -7 for this game which is substantially different than the real line now. The underdog has won both meetings straight up the past two seasons, including a 30-7 road win by Texas last year, so this is a revenge game for TCU. TCU holds a substantial edge on offense as they average 46 points per game and 542 yards per game (6.7 yards per play), while Texas only averages 24 ppg and 367 total yards (5.2 yppl) this season. However, Texas actually has the better defense, allowing just 21 points per game and 4.6 yard per play, while TCU permits 23 ppg and 5.1 yppl." - Steve Merril
ABOUT TCU (9-1 SU, 8-2 ATS, 7-3 O/U): The Horned Frogs' improvement in total yards (plus-196.8) and points (plus-20.8) lead the nation and are on pace to set a Big 12 record while the offense can also set school marks for points, first downs, passing yards and total offense in a single season. Boykin (3,021 passing yards, 24 touchdowns; 548 rushing yards, seven scores) ranks third nationally in total offense. Josh Doctson leads TCU, winner of five straight, with 43 catches for 693 yards and seven TDs and Kolby Listenbee has 33 catches for 606 yards and three scores.
ABOUT TEXAS (6-5 SU, 7-4 ATS, 3-8 O/U): Tyrone Swoopes has grown into a solid leader of the Texas offense, completing 58.8 percent of his passes for 2,152 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. Running backs Malcolm Brown and Johnathan Gray have combined for 1,281 yards and 13 scores while John Harris (59 catches for 976 yards and seven TDs) and Jaxon Shipley (58 catches, 571 yards, one score) lead the receiving corps. The Longhorn defense - led by linebacker Jordan Hicks' 136 tackles - has allowed just 5-of-30 third-down conversions in the past two games.
TRENDS:
* Horned Frogs are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games overall.
* Longhorns are 2-5 ATS in their last seven Thursday games.
* Over is 4-1 in Horned Frogs last five road games.
* Under is 14-3 in Longhorns last 17 games in November.
CONSENSUS: 65 percent of bettors are backing TCU.
