South Dakota State Jackrabbits vs. TCU Horned Frogs Predictions, Picks, Odds, and NCAA Football Week One Betting Preview – September 3, 2016

South Dakota State Jackrabbits vs. TCU Horned Frogs Betting Preview

Where: Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX

When: Saturday, September 3, 8:00 PM ET

Line: South Dakota State Jackrabbits vs. TCU Horned Frogs  – view all NCAA Football odds and lines

TV Broadcast: FSN

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Betting on the South Dakota State Jackrabbits

The Jackrabbits have yet to make up their mind as to who their starting quarterback is. Well, for the time being, it looks like sophomore Taryn Christion will get the first shot in vying for the job in the team’s season-opener at Fort Worth, Texas, where the 13th-ranked Horned Frogs await them.

Christion threw for 1,286 yards and provided seven touchdowns, while also rumbled for 484 yards and five scores last year. That ability to run with the football was certainly one of the key factors as to why he seems to be the better choice than fellow signal-caller Zach Lujan.  But the former is in for arguably his most difficult test yet, as he attempts to generate some points against a terrific TCU defense which ranked among the best nationally (66th) in total yards allowed last season.

It’s a good thing that South Dakota State faces no problems in figuring out their top wide receiver. Jake Wieneke, without question, is the team’s most lethal threat after garnering 72 passes, 11 of which were touchdowns, for a Missouri Valley-record 1,472 yards last year. The two-time All-American should be able to find ways to cause some trouble for the opposing defense.

Meanwhile, the Jackrabbits are actually in better shape on the other side of the field. They have senior defensive tackle Cole Langer and linebacker Jesse Bobbit anchoring a defense that limited opponents below 198 passing yards per game in 2015.

Betting on the TCU Horned Frogs

Unlike South Dakota State, the Horned Frogs know who their main man behind center is: Kenny Hill. The junior quarterback outdueled sophomore Foster Sawyer in fall camp to become the successor for Trevone Boykin, who now plays for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks.

Hill, for those who are unaware, spent his first two years at Texas A&M. He threw for 2,649 yards with 23 touchdowns in his final season there. And now, the former Aggies signal-caller has a chance to recreate some magic at Fort Worth. It’s easier said than done, but Hill can expect to receive a lot help from the backfield and a promising receiving group.

The pair of junior running backs in Kyle Hicks and Trevorris Johnson is expected to keep the team’s ground game intact. Meanwhile, sophomore KeVontae Turpin and junior-college transfer Taj Williams both appear eager to fill in the void left by last year’s leading pass-catcher Josh Doctson.

The former, in particular, looks more poised to take the reins as TCU’s new top target. Turpin caught 45 passes for 649 yards along with eight touchdowns as a freshman last season.

The Horned Frogs, who are pegged at +3,000 to win it all this season, have won 11 of their past 13 games. They’ve also won their last 14 home openers.

Writer’s Prediction

TCU wins it, 35-24.

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