FanDuel has released the season-long odds for college football programs including the TCU Horned Frogs, who are currently at +900 odds to win the Big 12 Conference, +730 to make the College Football Playoff and an astounding +22500 to win the National Championship this season. Quarterback Josh Hoover returns as a long shot to win the Heisman Trophy at +7000, while the Horned Frogs, +3000 to go undefeated as a team, aren’t favored by much to win over six games, as the odds currently sit at -172 for over 6.5
games and +140 for under 6.5 games. Given the betting odds, what is Russell’s TCU football pick for the 2025 season?
Russell’s Season Pick: TCU wins 8+ games (+100)
This is a somewhat risky bet, and there are a few factors working against the Horned Frogs turning in a second consecutive nine-win season. TCU objectively has a tougher 2025 slate in the Big 12, as the Horned Frogs have to face Arizona State, Kansas State, Baylor and Iowa State in addition to taking on Bill Belichick’s North Carolina and playing the Iron Skillet finale with SMU. Two of those programs (ASU and SMU) advanced to the first-ever 12-team playoff last season. Moreover, TCU, who plays WVU on the road, is replacing multiple skill players at receiver and questions still remain about the offensive line as well as the team’s ability to run the football. Cam Cook and Savion Williams, TCU’s top two leaders in rushing yards last season, are no longer with the program.
That said, TCU does have favorable conference matchups against Colorado, BYU, Houston and Cincinnati. Factor in an FCS matchup with Abilene Christian and all TCU would need to do is win one of its ACC matchups and go 6-3 in Big 12 games to reach the eight-win mark. I think the Horned Frogs have the talent to make that happen. The defense has depth in the secondary, veteran talent at linebacker and should improve, particularly against the run, in Andy Avalos’ second season as defensive coordinator. Pass rushers like Devean Deal and Jonathan Bax are also primed for big seasons, especially Deal, who led TCU in TFLs (9.5) and sacks (5.5) last season.
Offensively, Josh Hoover returns after setting a single-season passing yards record and Eric McAlister steps into the No. 1 receiver role after going for over 750 yards last year. TCU will need to run the ball better if it hopes to take a step further in 2025, but camp reports seem to reveal that Kevorian Barnes, a transfer from UTSA, has impressed and could be the starter. Barnes ran for 1,566 yards and 12 touchdowns between 2022 and 2023, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Should the Horned Frogs find a running game (as well as a way to stop the run on defense), TCU could be well positioned for an eight-plus win 2025 campaign.
More season bets are available at https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/ncaaf
