In this year’s College Football Playoffs, the second player will face the first player as Michigan will face TCU in the Fiesta Bowl semifinals on New Year’s Eve.
Michigan has qualified for the CFP for the second year in a row and has been in tears the last two seasons. Ohio State has two wins for him and two wins for him in the Big Ten Football Championships, giving him 25-2 overall. time till now.
The Wolverines are the only team to rank in the top 10 nationally on both sides of the ball in the College Football Playoffs, averaging 40.1 points per game and holding opponents to just 13.4 points per timeout on defense. .
Related: College Football Playoff Games, Rankings: How To Watch, Stream
TCU made its college football playoff debut after running the table behind a ferocious offense that averaged over 470 yards per game during the regular season, led by Heisman finalist quarterback Max Duggan.
But especially in the Big 12 Championship Game, the Horned Frogs lost their first game of the year to Kansas State, but remained No. It was enough. .
TCU posted 40.3 points per game that year, won five games against top 25 teams, and set up the first Big 12 vs. Big 10 game in the college football playoff era.
Here’s what you need to know about playing against the latest betting information and the latest predictions for the game.
How to watch, streaming
Date: Saturday, December 31st
Time: 4:00 PM ET, 3:00 PM CET
TV: ESPN network
Stream: fuboTV (try it free)
Fiesta Bowl game odds, point spreads and betting lines
Game lines courtesy of SI Sportsbook and subject to change after publication
Point Spread: Michigan joins as 7.5 point favorite against TCU | Michigan -7.5 (-118) | TCU +7.5 (-110)
total: 58 | -110 or more | -118 or less
Moneyline: Michigan -333 | TCU+240
FPI Forecast: Michigan has a 66.7% chance of winning the game, compared to 33.3% for TCU, according to the Football Power Index’s computer prediction model, which simulates a team’s season 20,000 times to pick a winner.
Diffusion of consensus picks: Michigan -7.5 (58% of bets were on Wolverines)
more: Michigan vs. TCU pick, predicted by computer model
TCU betting trends
+ TCU is 9-3-1 for spreads across the season
+ Horned Frogs are 2-0 SU as underdogs this year
+ 4 of TCU’s last 5 games have been under par
+ Under 4-1 across TCU’s last five games
+ Overs are 4-1 in Frogs last 5 games after ATS loss
+ TCU is 5-1 SU, in games decided by 8 points or less
Betting trends in Michigan
+ The Wolverines are 8-4-1 to the overall spread this season
+ Michigan goes 6-1 ATS with 35+ points.
+ UM are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games after winning SU
+ Michigan are 3-0-1 against the spread in their last four games after ATS win
+ Wolverine has an ATS of 0-5 in the last 5 bowl games.
1. Late Michigan. Few teams in college football are better than holding or leading the lead after the halftime break. This year, Michigan is leading by +206 points in the second half. That’s part of the advantage behind their superior, error-free approach to running the football behind a solid attacking line led by Remington Award-winning center Olu Oluwatimi.
Compare with TCU after half which is plus 98. To prevent the Wolverines from showing their strength, they need to enter the break in the lead and establish a run with Kendre Miller.
2. TCU excels in close combat. The Horned Frogs have had to come out of a few holes multiple times this season and win close games, finishing the year with a perfect 5-0 mark in one-score matchups during the regular season. And they nearly did it again against K State in the Big 12 title game.
As close as TCU has been, Michigan hasn’t played in many games. He has played in two games, leading college football in the nation by averaging 26.7 points per game, just one point per game. If the match comes as close as the oddsmakers expect, TCU, with the skill experience and athleticism in his position, could be in a position to make a comeback.
3. Michigan runs the ball. This is why the Wolverines have dominated all season. Ranked fifth nationally with 243 yards rushing per game, third overall with 5.6 yards per carry, and second in the nation with 38 total rushing touchdowns. Much of that success was due to Blake Colm, a Heisman Trophy-worthy player whose year was cut short by a knee injury, but his absence was due to some solid depth of potential. He was not a sexual killer.
Donovan Edwards can record the starter snap, gut the Buckeyes for 216 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and stack up another 185 yards on the ground against Purdue in the Big Ten Championship Game . Michigan is at its best when pushed from the line, getting consistent mid-gain from the back, and sneaking receivers downfield in space for quick shots.
Michigan vs TCU Prediction
TCU has the ability to throw Wolverine out defensively when quarterback Max Duggan is efficient early on and can make a few plays out of the pocket.
Duggan leads a Rank 6 offense according to SP+. He can make long throws downfield and extends his play with well-placed running ability.
His top target is Quentin Johnston, a huge 6-foot-4 receiver.
TCU moves the ball in the Wolverines defense with some regularity, but they need to cash when in scoring position. Michigan has allowed 11 touchdowns in 29 Reds in his zone attempts this year. .
TCU has the speed and discipline at linebacker to help contain Michigan’s ground attack slightly, but the Wolverines have more to offer for Edwards to showcase a combination of physical internal carry and external flush. It has a dominant protective arrangement with many holes.
With Edwards moving the chain and McCarthy hitting enough mid-throws, it should be enough to keep TCU off the field just enough to pull this off.
College Football HQ Fiesta Bowl Predictions: Michigan 36, TCU 31 (TCU +7.5, 58 and above)
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