Arizona's Onside Kick Beats TCU 29-28, but the Wildcats Failed to Cover
No. 22 Arizona recovered an onside kick and hit a late field goal to beat TCU 29-28, but DraftKings had the Wildcats favored by six at the close.
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Key takeaways
- Per ESPN, No. 22 Arizona beat TCU 29-28 after recovering an onside kick and Michael Salgado-Medina's 37-yard field goal with 39 seconds left.
- DraftKings opened Arizona -9.5 and closed -6, so the Wildcats won by one and did not cover, per ESPN's odds feed.
- Arizona outgained TCU 441 yards to 281 but trailed 28-20 in the fourth quarter after a 93-yard interception return.
- Arizona (7-2, 4-2 Big 12) has won seven straight home games, its longest streak since 1993-94, ESPN reported.
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No. 22 Arizona Recovers an Onside Kick to Beat TCU 29-28
Michael Salgado-Medina kicked a 37-yard field goal with 39 seconds left after Arizona recovered an onside pooch kick, giving the Wildcats a 29-28 win over TCU, per ESPN. Arizona had pulled within 28-26 on a 15-yard Noah Fifita touchdown pass to Quincy Craig with 1:45 left, but the two-point attempt failed. Ian French's onside kick floated over the front line, TCU's Ed Small could not make the catch, and Zuri Watson recovered at the TCU 26.
It was just magic the way that thing finished.
Fifita threw for 313 yards and two touchdowns but also an interception that Hudson Hooper returned 93 yards for a score. TCU's Jaden Craig ran for two touchdowns and threw for 232 yards. Tyrese Boss sealed the win with an interception. Arizona is 7-2 (4-2 Big 12), and TCU fell to 4-5 (2-4).
Arizona vs. TCU Odds: How the Closing Market Played Out
This game is final, so the table shows how the market moved before kickoff and how the result compares. Per ESPN's odds feed (DraftKings), retrieved November 7 at 8:10 AM ET:
| Market | Opening | Close | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spread | Arizona -9.5 | Arizona -6 | Won by 1, did not cover |
| Arizona moneyline | -375 | -250 | Won |
| TCU moneyline | +295 | +205 | Lost |
| Total | 44.5 | 46.5 | 57 points, over |
The feed does not say why a line moved, so everything below is our reading.
Our Read: A Win That Looked Bigger Than the Score
- The yardage says Arizona was better. The Wildcats gained 441 yards to TCU's 281 and averaged 8.5 yards per pass to 5.7. The margin came from a defensive touchdown and a failed two-point try.
- The score hides a lucky bounce. A 93-yard interception return is a swing of its own, and the onside recovery was a low-probability play that worked. Neither is a trend.
- The market had already cut the number. Arizona's spread shrank by 3.5 points from the open, so bettors who liked the Wildcats at the close still needed a bigger margin.
- TCU's season looks unlucky. Coach Sonny Dykes said the team has lost a lot of close games. At 4-5, the record trails what this game suggests, though one game proves little.
For Arizona, the bigger point is that a team ranked No. 22 survived on special teams, which keeps its Big 12 title hopes alive without proving it is a contender.
What to Watch Next for Arizona and TCU
- Whether Fifita cuts down on throws to the flat, since this was his fifth interception of the season.
- Arizona's pass protection, which ESPN said broke down at times.
- Whether the Wildcats extend their seven-game home winning streak.
- TCU's response after another close loss, with bowl eligibility still possible at 4-5.
Read how point spreads and moneylines work before you wager
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