Texas Longhorns vs. TCU Horned Frogs: Betting Odds, Preview and Pick

Texas and TCU met many times as rivals in the old Southwest Conference.

Now they'll meet for the first time as rival members of the Big 12 Conference when the Longhorns host the Horned Frogs Thanksgiving night in Austin (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).

Oddsmakers are banking that this game will end like the previous two meetings of these schools since 1995—with a Texas victory. Most college football betting outlets tracked by OddsShark.com were listing Texas as an eight-point favorite earlier this week, with an over/under of 58.

TCU started 4-0 this season and got to 5-1 but has lost three of its last four. The slide started with a 56-53 overtime loss to Texas Tech and a 36-14 defeat at Oklahoma State. The Frogs won at West Virginia in overtime 39-38 but two Saturdays ago fell at home to Kansas State 23-10.

Along the way, TCU had to make a change at QB, replacing Casey Pachall with freshman Trevone Boykin, who's completed 58 percent of his throws since taking over, with 14 touchdown passes and eight interceptions.

On the other side of this matchup, Texas started 4-0 this season with a win at Oklahoma State, then lost two in a row, allowing a combined 111 points to West Virginia and Oklahoma.

But since then, the 'Horns have won four in a row, beating Baylor, Kansas, Texas Tech and two Saturdays ago, Iowa State, 33-7.

Technically, Texas could still win the Big 12 title with a win Thursday, another next week vs. Kansas State and help from elsewhere.

Statistically speaking, the Frogs have outgained five of its last six opponents, while Texas has been outgained by five of its last seven foes.

These teams last met five seasons ago, when the Longhorns, quarterbacked by Colt McCoy, beat the Frogs, led by Andy Dalton, 34-13.

Free Pick: Texas has been rolling, while a young TCU has struggled a bit lately. But below the surface this looks like a closer matchup than the line indicates. We'll take the Frogs and the points for Thursday night. (courtesy of PickShark.com)

All odds, stats and trends mentioned courtesy of OddsShark.com. Mike Pickett is an Analyst to Bleacher Report and contributes to the Twitter feed.