The California Golden Bears can consider this season a success already based on the fact that they have earned a bowl game spot despite a 3-3 start to their campaign. That said, a victory at the Cheez-It-Bowl matchup with the TCU Horned Frogs will make it better altogether for the Pac-12 program. As for TCU, it will be relying on head coach Gary Patterson’s mastery of Pac-12 opponents, as he is 6-0 SU against programs from that conference.
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Betting Preview for the California Golden Bears vs TCU Horned Frogs College Football Game on December 26 2018
Where: Chase Field, Phoenix
When: Wednesday, December 26, 2018, 9:00 PM ET
Line: California Golden Bears (odds) vs TCU Horned Frogs (odds) – view all 2018 NCAAF lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the California Golden Bears (7-5 Overall / 4-5 Conference)
The Golden Bears can thank their defense for being the biggest reason why they are part of the bowl season. They are 20th in the nation with just 21.1 points allowed per game. Even better is their average of 319.5 total yards surrendered per contest, which is 14th in FBS. Outside of California’s 42-24 loss to the Oregon Ducks, the school managed to hold all of its ranked opponents under 15 points this season. Among the brightest stars of the Golden Bears’ defense is no other than linebacker Evan Weaver, who had 127 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks. California’s secondary is also deadly, perhaps the most dangerous in the Pac-12, as the Bears pace the conference with 17 interceptions with five turned into touchdowns. TCU can be pretty clumsy on offense, as evidenced by its average of 2.0 turnovers per game and a 1.40 interception percentage, so the Bears’ tandem of Ashytn Davis and Traveon Beck must be licking their chops at the prospect of victimizing TCU quarterback Grayson Muehlstein. Davis is tied for first in the Pac-12 with four interceptions, while Beck is tied for second with three picks.
The Golden Bears are 5-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last six games.
Betting on the TCU Horned Frogs (6-6 Overall / 4-5 Conference)
The Horned Frogs have some momentum heading into this bowl game after defeating the Oklahoma State Cowboys at home on Nov. 25, 31-24. Prior to that, they took down the Baylor Bears on road in a 16-9 win on Nov. 18. Like the Golden Bears, TCU prides itself of a stingy defense that allowed just 26.0 points and 358.9 total yards per game, 53rd and 38th this season, respectively. The Horned Frogs’ offense does not inspire much nor does it send shivers down the spines of opposing teams, but TCU has managed to win three games despite scoring no more than 17 points and a passing offense that is only seventh in the Big 12 with 226.8 passing yards per game mainly and simply because their defense has always put them in position to grab wins. Perhaps the biggest problem for the Horned Frogs in this meeting with California is Golden Bears running back Patrick Laird, though, TCU is confident that it’s stop unit that finished third in the Big 12 with just 141.83 rushing yards per contest will be able to bottle him up at least for a bit,
TCU is 2-0 ATS in its last two games.
Writer’s Prediction
California wins in a close one, 23-21.
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