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The Texas Longhorns hope to build on one of their best performances in recent memory Saturday when they travel to face the rival TCU Horned Frogs in an important college football showdown. The Longhorns are coming off a 70-35 home win against Texas Tech last week. It was the most points for the program since the Vince Young-led Longhorns also posted 70 on Texas Tech in 2005. They will attempt to continue the production against a TCU team that looked shaky defensively in last week's 42-34 home loss to SMU. However, the Horned Frogs have won six of the last seven meetings in this in-state rivalry.

Kickoff is set for noon ET from Amon G. Carter Stadium. The latest TCU vs. Texas odds list the Longhorns as four-point favorites, while the over-under for total points is set at 65. Before making any Texas vs. TCU picks, make sure you check out the college football predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model. 

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $3,300 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. After going a sizzling 9-3 in Week 4, It also enters Week 5 of the 2021 season on an 81-61 run on all top-rated college football picks. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has locked in on Texas vs. TCU from every angle and just released its top picks and predictions. You can only see the model's CFB picks at SportsLine. Here are the college football odds and trends for TCU vs. Texas: 

  • Texas vs. TCU point spread: Texas -4
  • Texas vs. TCU over-under: 65 
  • Texas vs. TCU money line: Texas -180, TCU +155
  • UT: The Longhorns are on a 5-1 run against the spread when favored 
  • TCU: The Horned Frogs are 4-1 ATS following a straight-up loss

Why Texas can cover

A major encouraging sign for the Longhorns came with an offensive explosion that resulted in 639 total yards and 70 points against a Texas Tech team that had allowed just 64 combined points to its previous three opponents.

Coach Steve Sarkisian said he was happy with the decision-making of junior quarterback Casey Thompson in a game plan that was heavy with run-pass options. Five of the six Longhorns who caught a pass registered at least one reception of 13 or more yards, and the running game was just as explosive. Seven players registered at least one carry and six of them had a rush for 10 or more yards. Texas currently has four players with at least 110 rushing yards for the season.

Texas also received some good news earlier this week when it was announced that Joshua Moore, last year's leading receiver, is likely to play Saturday despite suffering an ankle injury in practice. Xavier Worthy has been the top target, with 14 catches for 246 yards and four touchdowns. 

Why TCU can cover

TCU's Gary Patterson is known as a defense-minded coach, and he appears to have his work cut out for him following last week's performance against SMU in which the Horned Frogs yielded nearly 600 yards of total offense and gave up 350 yards of rushing offense. The latter is even more uncharacteristic of a Patterson-cached club because his teams have a history of controlling the line of scrimmage.

Even so, the Frogs still managed to force three turnovers and register four tackles for loss against the Mustangs and help could be on the way Saturday.

Defensive end Khari Coleman, who shared Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors last season, has yet to see a snap this year because of a lingering leg injury. He led all freshmen with 15 tackles for loss last year, and Patterson told the media this week there's a good chance Coleman makes his debut Saturday. Cornerback Noah Daniels is yet to play in the 2021 season as he continues to recover from a leg injury suffered last year. When healthy, Daniels is widely considered the top NFL prospect on TCU's defense. 

How to make Texas vs. TCU picks 

SportsLine's model is leaning over on the point total, projecting the teams to combine for 73 points. The model also says one side of the spread has all the value. You can only get the model's Texas vs. TCU ATS pick at SportsLine. 

So who wins Texas vs. TCU? And which side of the spread has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on Saturday, all from the model that has crushed its college football picks, and find out.