The TCU vs. Stanford spread in Week 1 of college football has the largest point differential between the market line and PRO Projections, giving bettors a prime opportunity to lock in a great number.
Friday's TCU vs. Stanford matchup (10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) marks the season opener for both teams, adding layers of intrigue in a late-night, non-conference clash.
Led by quarterback Ashton Daniels, Stanford is in its first year as a member of the ACC after spending nearly a century in the Pac-12. Daniels will continue to be involved in an offense that utilizes multiple personnel and pre-snap motion.
TCU, meanwhile, returns just 13 combined starts at left guard and right tackle. The Horned Frogs are expected to field freshmen at both kicker and punter positions.
PRO Projections feature cutting-edge, exclusive betting models developed by our expert team. Our best picks and projections are then rated for their strength using a basic system: A, B, C, with A+ as the highest grade.
The TCU vs. Stanford spread is a grade-A pick for college football Friday.
TCU vs Stanford Spread: Projections Best Week 1 Pick
The spread for Friday night's matchup is set at TCU -9.5 and Stanford +9.5, both offered with a vig of -110. The total is listed at 60.
| TCU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-9.5 -110 | 60 -110o / -110u | -340 |
| Stanford Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+9.5 -110 | 60 -110o / -110u | +270 |
Last year, TCU got upset in its home opener as a three-score favorite, thrusting Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes into the national spotlight.
For TCU vs. Stanford Week 1 odds, our advanced power ratings are way off from the consensus bookmaker line.
PRO Projections estimate the true spread for this game should be Stanford +5.3, indicating a significant discrepancy to the market's +9.5 — greenlighting a favorable bet on Stanford to cover.
Our numbers are a full four points off the spread, plus we're bagging key numbers of +6 and +7 with the underdog.
Also, utilizing Bet Labs' Signals, once the Stanford line reached +10, a smart bet was made, driving the line back down to Stanford +9.5. There's some resistance at double digits, marking a boundary where smart bettors are monitoring.
The 4.2 difference between our spread and the market's is the largest of any Week 1 line.