TCU Horned Frogs (3-0 SU, 2-1 ATS) vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys (3-0 SU, 3-0 ATS)
College Football Week 4
Date/Time: Saturday, September 23rd, 2017 3:30 PM ET
Where: Boone Pickens Stadium Stillwater, OK
TV: ESPN
by KEITH, NCAA Football Handicapper, Predictem.com
Point Spread: OK STATE -11.5
Over/Under Total: 68.5
The Big 12 will feature a slobber-knocker when the TCU Horned Frogs (3-0) travel to Stillwater, Oklahoma to face off with the Oklahoma State Cowboys (3-0) in a match-up of Top-16 teams. Currently, the Frogs sit at #16 in the polls. The Pokes are ranked #6. This series has been tipped in favor of the Pokes as of recent. Oklahoma State has won the last two meetings and have emerged victorious in five of the previous six clashes overall. The most recent chapter featured a 31-6 beatdown of the Horned Frogs in Fort Worth when Oklahoma State came to town in 2016. The contest will be televised live from Boone Pickens Stadium for national audiences on ESPN. Kick-off is scheduled for 3:30 PM ET.
2016 was considered a year that the Horned Frogs took a step back. TCU would finish with a loss in their post-season bowl appearance when they fell to the Georgia Bulldogs in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. The Frogs jumped out to an early lead and the Dawgs would shut the door. Since then, TCU has won their first three contests to open up their 2017 endeavors. TCU comes in off a quality win against rival Southern Methodist, last Saturday. The Frogs would get all over the Pony Express and hand SMU a 56-36 loss. Despite the huge margin of victory, the Horned Frogs failed to cover a -22 line at the close. TCU features a highly-touted quarterback in Kenny Hill. Hill came up by way of Texas A&M before he transferred across state. Hill was flawless against SMU when he went for 365 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, and no interceptions thrown. The dual-threat quarterback is complemented by a duo of bulldozers at running back in Darius Anderson and Kyle Hicks. Hicks was a 1,000-plus yard rusher in 2016.
The Cowboys feature some premiere talent in quarterback Mason Rudolph and wide receiver James Washington. So far, the Cowboys have lived up to the hype that has surrounded them all season. The Cowboys have won nine of their last 10 outings and have been perfect against the spread this year. Oklahoma State was tasked with covering some rather large numbers and did so with ease. Their most recent contest resulted in a 59-21 thumping when they traveled to Pitt. When comparing TCU to other opponents faced in 2017, the Horned Frogs are certainly a step up in caliber. The Pokes own additional wins against South Alabama and Tulsa to round off their 2017 docket.
Given the fact, the Over/Under in this market has been established at 68.5 it can be derived that many are expecting a shootout between these two high-octane football teams. In such situations, taking the points is the academic move when the number is larger than a touchdown. Despite this, much of the public has smothered Oklahoma State. Currently, 89% of the money is on the Pokes and 71% of the consensus like the Cowboys in this market. This is a big money game with a lot of action in the early going. With all these variables weighed, fading public provides us with a quality opportunity to snag some value on a likely underpriced TCU team. This is a football team that went into Arkansas and laid waste to the Hogs as a three-point favorite. In the early stages, TCU opened as a significant underdog. The rest is history. Not only can TCU cover the line but they can also knock off the Pokes and send the Big 12 into chaos. Oklahoma State has been prone to some monumental losses when they were forecasted to be a Big 12 juggernaut. Last years debacle against Central Michigan at home typifies this trend. Texas Christian has a coach that knows to how succeed in high-stakes games and inspire his team to play above their station. Oklahoma State enthusiasts are still waiting for Mike Gundy to take the Pokes to that elite status. Nevertheless, Oklahoma States stock is through the ceiling. This creates an ideal buy-low and sell-high scenario that gets us enhanced points on a reputable football team. We have to like that position.
KEITHs Pick to Cover the Point Spread: TCU +11.5. Bet this game for FREE by taking advantage of a 100% bonus (Deposit $100, get $100 FREE!)at the web’s oldest sportsbook: Intertops!