TCU vs. West Virginia Picks, Predictions College Football Week 9: Tricky Spot on the Road for Horned Frogs
TCU enters its Week 9 date with West Virginia as the loser of each of the last four head-to-head meetings. However, the Horned Frogs enter this matchup undefeated in 2022. Read on for our top TCU-West Virginia picks.
Plenty of AP Top-10 teams are set to be in action this Saturday. Among them are the seventh-ranked TCU Horned Frogs, who will be on the road for a Big 12 matchup against the West Virginia Mountaineers.
TCU (5-1-1 ATS, 5-2 O/U) overcame an 11-point halftime deficit to knock off Kansas State and improve to 7-0 on the season last week. The Horned Frogs’ defense pitched a second-half shutout in a 10-point victory. Now TCU moves on to its first road game in three weeks.
Meanwhile, West Virginia (4-3 ATS, 4-3 O/U) has now alternated wins and losses in each of its last four games. After upsetting Baylor as a home underdog two weeks ago, Texas blew out the Mountaineers on the road in Week 8.
Here are our college football betting picks for the Week 9 TCU-West Virginia matchup (odds via Caesars Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, and DraftKings Sportsbook; pick confidence is based on a 1-to-5 star scale).
Check out all of our top college football picks for Week 9, as well as our best bets.
TCU vs. West Virginia Game Info
Date: Saturday, Oct. 29, Noon ET
TV: ESPN
Location: Milan Puskar Stadium, Morgantown, WV
Weather: 60 degrees, 0% chance of precipitation, 2-3 mph northeast winds
TCU vs. West Virginia Odds
TCU vs. West Virginia Odds Analysis
TCU has drawn 70% of the tickets on the spread as of Saturday morning but those are accounting for just 51% of the handle. The consensus spread has moved from TCU -6.5 at opening to -7.5.
The Over/Under is down from 70.5 to 69 but with 79% of the tickets and 67% of the handle on the Over.
TCU vs. West Virginia Picks
- Spread: West Virginia +7.5 (-110 via Caesars) ★★
- Total: Over 68.5 (-114 via FanDuel) ★★
- Prop: First-quarter moneyline: West Virginia (+145 via DraftKings) ★★
TCU vs. West Virginia ATS Pick
West Virginia +7.5 (-110) ★★
TCU’s luck will run out eventually. Both of Kansas State’s top two quarterbacks were knocked out of last week’s contest with injuries. Without that, it’s hard telling whether the Horned Frogs would still be undefeated coming to Morgantown.
One thing we know for certain is that West Virginia's defense will have its work cut out trying to slow down Max Duggan and the TCU offense. Five of seven opponents have managed to score 38-plus points against the Mountaineers in 2022.
Out of 131 FBS teams, WVU ranks 125th in both scoring defense and passing yards allowed per game. This isn’t exactly ideal when facing a top-40 passing offense. However, the Mountaineers have proven capable of putting up points, especially at home.
Along with a 65-point outburst against an FCS opponent, West Virginia has tallied 42 and 43 points in two previous home games against Big 12 opponents. The second of those outputs came two weeks ago against a Baylor defense that's considered to be better than TCU’s unit.
After throwing three interceptions during an abysmal Week 8 performance, JT Daniels will most certainly be better on Saturday. Throw in elite running back Tony Mathis, and one has to believe West Virginia can put up enough points to hang around, if not surprise the Horned Frogs outright.
Check out our college football Week 9 picks roundup.
TCU vs. West Virginia O/U Pick
Over 68.5 (-114) ★★
It’s clear offense is the strength of both teams. However, with the betting total opening north of 70 points, it’s hard to argue with the market move to the Under. While most sportsbooks are currently listing either 69 or 69.5, bettors can find added value in the lower number at FanDuel.
TCU and West Virginia are allowing 28.2 and 38.2 points per game against FBS opponents, respectively. The Horned Frogs have been one of the highest-scoring teams in the country at 42.3 points per game. WVU has also put up 31-plus points in four of six games against FBS opposition and is averaging 29.8 on the season.
Until one of these defenses shows an ability to generate consistent stops, it’s hard to do anything but play the Over. While TCU did pitch a shutout in the second half last week, the school was up against Kansas State’s backup, and eventually the third-string QB.
Replicating that performance won’t be easy on the road against a veteran passer like Daniels. During his time at Georgia, he played and practiced against some stiffer defenses than what TCU brings to the table.
Check out our college football Week 9 parlay picks.
TCU vs. West Virginia Prop Pick
First-quarter moneyline: West Virginia (+145) ★★
West Virginia has led after one quarter in each of its three home games in 2022. The Mountaineers built a 14-0 lead during the first 15 minutes of an eventual overtime loss to Kansas.
Throw in a 7-3 advantage at the end of one quarter in the game against Baylor, and WVU has outscored FBS opponents 21-3 during the first quarter of home games in 2022. If the Mountaineers are to catch TCU by surprise, the early stages of Saturday’s game figure to be their best opportunity.
The Horned Frogs are coming off three consecutive games against ranked opponents. Getting amped up to play a lackluster team on the road could prove to be easier said than done. Of course, the crowd will also be a factor early.
Where to Bet on TCU-West Virginia Picks
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TCU-West Virginia picks made 10/26/2022 at 3:58 p.m. ET
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