TCU football favored to beat UNC, but sportsbooks skeptical of Big 12 chances
The TCU football team is solidly favored to spoil the college debut of six-time Super Bowl champion head coach Bill Belichick and North Carolina on Monday night.
Sportsbooks are more skeptical about the Horned Frogs’ chances of reaching their goal of a Big 12 championship.
TCU is a consensus 3.5-point road favorite in the 7 p.m. game in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, televised nationally on ESPN. The total, or over/under — the combined number of points scored by both teams — is 55.5.
On the money line (a wager on who will win the game regardless of the point spread), TCU is a -170 favorite at DraftKings, which translates to a 63% chance of victory. North Carolina is a +142 underdog.
Odds expressed with a negative number mean a bettor would have to bet that much to win $100. In this case, a bettor would have to wager $170 to win $100 on TCU.
Odds expressed with a positive number reflect how much a bettor would win with a $100 wager. In this case, a $100 wager on the Tar Heels would earn a $142 profit.
TCU season win total
The Horned Frogs finished 8-4 in the regular season last year, but sportsbooks don’t project TCU to match that number this season.
TCU’s regular-season win total is set at 6.5 at DraftKings, with the over favored at -180. Circa Sports sets the number at 7, with the over favored at -125.
Big 12 championship odds
Heading into Week 1, TCU had the sixth-best odds to win the Big 12 at DraftKings at +850.
Defending champion Arizona State was favored at +550, followed by Utah (+600), Texas Tech (+600), Baylor (+700) and Iowa State (+800).
Circa favored Utah at +500, followed by Texas Tech (+525) and Arizona State (+600). Baylor, Iowa State and TCU were tied as the +800 fourth choice.
TCU’s College Football Playoff odds
The Horned Frogs are a long shot to figure in the national title picture.
TCU is 250-1 to claim the College Football Playoff championship at DraftKings and is +700 to make the 12-team CFP field.
DraftKings installed defending champion Ohio State as the +600 favorite after the No. 3-ranked Buckeyes’ 14-7 victory over No. 1 Texas on Saturday. Penn State is next at +650, followed by Georgia (+700), Texas (+750) and LSU (10-1).
Josh Hoover’s Heisman Trophy odds
TCU quarterback Josh Hoover represents the Horned Frogs’ best hope to win the Heisman Trophy, but he is far back in the pack on the odds board at 150-1.
LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is the +700 favorite. Texas quarterback Arch Manning, the preseason favorite, fell all the way back to 16-1 after struggling in the Longhorns’ opening defeat.
TCU-North Carolina game props
TCU transfer running back Kevorian Barnes is tied with North Carolina running back Davion Gause as the +650 favorites at DraftKings to score the first touchdown Monday.
Barnes is -150 to score a TD at any point. TCU running back Jeremy Payne is -115 to score a TD.
The odds on other Horned Frogs to score a TD include Eric McAlister (+120), Jordan Dwyer (+150), Jordyn Bailey (+220), Joseph Manjack IV (+225), Hoover (+235) and Trent Battle (+250).
Hoover is -115 to throw for 290 or more yards and +143 to throw for three or more TDs.
Barnes is +107 to rush for 50 or more yards.
McAlister is +102 to have 80 or more receiving yards.
Sports betting is not legal in Texas, but the odds provide a window into how experts who have a financial stake in the outcome assess a team’s or player’s chances.
This story was originally published August 31, 2025 at 4:05 PM.
