Michigan vs TCU Betting Props: Fiesta Bowl

Reaching the College Football Playoff a season ago seemed to be good enough for the Michigan Wolverines, who were no match for eventual national champion Georgia. It is a different deal this season with the Wolverines having their eyes on the prize.

Before winning the national title, the Wolverines will need to dispatch Texas Christian, one of the most surprising turnaround stories in college football. Michigan is favored to win Saturday’s semifinal game being held at 4 p.m. ET in State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ.

The weather is looking pretty good so there could be some offensive fireworks in the first of two national semifinals.

The line opened with Michigan favored by nine points and is now at 7½. The opening total was 59½ and it is now at 57½ according to the college football odds.

Below, we have four proposition bets ahead of this game, highlighting some key players in both camps. Let’s check the latest college football odds, stats, injury reports, and college football lines for Michigan vs TCU. We’ve plenty of NCAA football odds for you to consider.

NCAAF: Michigan vs TCU Props

• Michigan to score first (-155)
• The first score of the game to be a Michigan touchdown (+110)
• Max Duggan 236½ passing yards (-115)
• Cornelius Johnson 37½ receiving yards (+115)

Wolverines Ready to Pounce

Both teams have made it a habit of scoring first as TCU is 8-1 when opening the scoring and Michigan 12-0.

While four times the first points in Michigan’s games came on a run by Blake Corum, who will miss the game due to a knee injury, it is hard to go against Michigan in this one. There is the option of All-American kicker Jake Moody, who twice was responsible for the first points and his 26 field goals are the most in the country. Add in four TD receptions and six scoring runs that accounted for the first points, it is hard to go against the Wolverines.

• Pick: Michigan to score first (-155)

PATs Over Field Goals

Michigan and Texas Christian have scored early and often to get to this point. Texas Christian is seventh nationally with an average of 10.31 points scored per game in the first quarter while Michigan is 10th with an average of 9.38 points scored in the opening 15 minutes.

When you add in the fact that the Wolverines are also in the top 20 nationally with just 3.69 points allowed in the first quarter, it makes sense to go with the first score in the game to be a touchdown scored by the Wolverines.

Yes, Michigan kicker Jake Moody knows how to deliver when asked to kick field goals. However, other than perhaps the opening kickoff, perhaps his next duty will be converting on a point after when Michigan reaches the end zone first.

• Pick: The first score of the game to be a Michigan touchdown (+110)

Duggan to Air It Out

Michigan’s pass defense was merely ordinary late in the season as Ohio State had 349 passing yards and Purdue finished with 366.

While Texas Christian’s Max Duggan doesn’t average 42 passing attempts per game like Purdue’s Aidan O’Connell or has weapons to throw to like Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud did, he is bursting with confidence heading into the matchup with Michigan.

This does not have the feeling of a 24-17 game so TCU will likely need to air it out to stay with the Wolverines. With that in mind, going with Duggan to go over 236½ yards is a smart way to proceed.

🎥🐸 TCU QB @MaxDuggan_10 talks about the Frogs’ mindset entering the @CFBPlayoff Semifinal, about the fear of failing and about spa day. pic.twitter.com/ejlqQ3TpGw

— Vrbo Fiesta Bowl (@Fiesta_Bowl) December 28, 2022

• Pick: Max Duggan to go over 236½ passing yards (-115)

Johnson to Break Loose

One of the lasting images from Michigan’s dominating second-half performance against rival Ohio State was seeing receiver Cornelius Johnson break free for touchdown receptions of 69 and 75 yards.

Nobody is expecting Johnson to match his numbers of 160 yards on four catches that he had against Ohio State in the CFP matchup with the Horned Frogs. However, only Kansas and West Virginia allowed more pass plays of 40 yards or longer among Big 12 teams, so the Horned Frogs are susceptible to the occasional long pass play.

Johnson seems likely to surpass 37½ receiving yards in the game. In fact, he might actually do so on one catch even though he had only one catch longer than 40 yards heading into the Ohio State game.

Those who bet online might want to look at the +240 number for Johnson going over ½ touchdowns in the game.

• Pick: Cornelius Johnson to have more than 37½ receiving yards (-115)