TCU vs. Colorado picks and best bets for Week 1

The Horned Frogs and Buffaloes meet in Boulder on Friday. Here’s everything you need to know and a pick for the game.

By Grace McDermott Sep 1, 2022, 4:35am PDT

Wide receiver Derius Davis #11 of the TCU Horned Frogs rushes for yards in the second half of play at Jack Trice Stadium on November 26, 2021 in Ames, Iowa. The Iowa State Cyclones won 48-14 over the TCU Horned Frogs.

The TCU Horned Frogs travel to Boulder to face the Colorado Buffaloes on Friday, September 2 at 10:00 p.m. ET. It’s the only Big 12 conference game on Thursday’s slate, and should have plenty of eyeballs in Boulder from the middle of the country.

Here’s all the data you’ll want, and a pick for the game!

SP+ Rankings

TCU: No. 41 overall, No. 15 offense, No. 74 defense
Colorado: No. 92 overall, No. 103 offense, No. 76 defense

Injury update

Colorado

WR Grant Page - Doubtful (knee)

ATS/Total

Against The Spread

TCU: 0-0 ATS
Colorado: 0-0 ATS

Total

TCU: Over 0-0
Colorado: Over 0-0

Returning/Overall Talent from 247Sports

TCU: No. 34 overall, No. 32 offense, No. 39 defense
Colorado: No. 60 overall, No. 56 offense, No. 61 defense

Current lines at DraftKings Sportsbook

Spread: TCU -13.5
Total: 55.5
Moneyline: TCU -500, Colorado +400

Opening line: TCU -9
Opening total: 54.5

Weather

85 degrees, 5 MPH wind, 2% chance of rain

The Pick

TCU -13.5

Even though the Horned Frogs didn’t look stellar last season, this is a pretty big mismatch for a Power 5 pairing. The odds speak for themselves, and unless that number gets over 14, you can feel pretty safe here with veteran Max Duggan.

Even with the home field advantage, I don’t think a bottom-of-the-Pac-12 team is going to be able to pull off an upset on Friday. It’s TCU, lay the wood.

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