Michigan vs. TCU odds: Early point spread released for College Football Playoff semifinal

The College Football Playoff field has finally been set. No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 4 Ohio State will battle in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, while No. 2 Michigan will battle against No. 3 TCU in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. The winners of each game will have a berth in the national title game on the line. Shortly after the reveal, the opening line for Michigan-TCU was revealed.

Michigan has opened as a nine-point favorite over TCU, according to Caesars Sportsbook.

In the other CFP semifinal, Georgia is a seven-point favorite over Ohio State.

Michigan remains undefeated on the season. The Wolverines won the Big Ten Championship, defeating Purdue to improve to 13-0 on the year. TCU was undefeated entering the Big 12 title game, but the Horned Frogs fell in a tight overtime contest against Kansas State.

Michigan’s offense has been led by multiple key contributors this season, namely quarterback J.J. McCarthy and running back Blake Corum. McCarthy threw for 2,376 yards with 20 touchdowns and three interceptions, also adding 254 yards and four scores on the ground. Corum rushed for 1,463 yards and 18 touchdowns, and is a Heisman hopeful.

Unfortunately for Michigan, Corum will not play against TCU and his season is done due to a knee injury. The Wolverines do have Donovan Edwards in the backfield as well, who has rushed for 872 yards and seven touchdowns this season.

TCU’s path to the College Football Playoff was an exciting one. The Horned Frogs picked up wins over Kansas, Oklahoma State, Kansas State and Texas during the regular season, among others. They then battled back to force overtime against Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship Game, later falling short.

The run to the CFP was one that most probably didn’t expect in the first year of the Sonny Dykes era. It was made possible by an all-around strong roster, which is led by quarterback and Heisman hopeful Max Duggan, who threw for 3,321 yards with 30 touchdowns and four interceptions. TCU also has one of the potential top wide receivers in the 2023 NFL Draft in Quentin Johnston, who hauled in 53 catches for 903 yards and five touchdowns this season.

The Horned Frogs also have a strong rushing attack, which is led by Kendre Miller. He ran for 1,342 yards and 17 touchdowns this season.