In this photo taken Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011, TCU head coach Gary Patterson runs onto the field with his team before an NCAA college football game against SMU in Fort Worth, Texas. Leaders of the Big 12 Conference cleared the way Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011, to add TCU, a move that would bring in a rising program and potentially shore up a league that seemed ready to fall apart just a few weeks ago. (AP Photo/Matt Strasen)
Gary Patterson: 20th year at TCU 160-57
The challenge for a spot in the Big Twelve Conference Championship game comes down to TCU, West Virginia, and Texas with Oklahoma the prohibitive favorite of the four. Today’s look at Texas Christian University follows. Currently, a little more than a week before the season begins, the TCU team is ranked in the Top 25 (AP poll) and have the excitement of a better than just a winning season. A Big Twelve conference football title is in sight, and with the right breaks and such, they are quite capable of taking the title in 2018.
Gary Patterson, long time head coach, has made TCU a perennial winner in Fort Worth and for this season, he has enough on offense to score significant points to go along with an always good defense.
With good quarterbacking, excellent skill position players, the offensive line would be the only draw back on this Frog scoring machine. Sophomore Shawn Robinson is the man currently running the show. He has the talent to be a first line Big Twelve player and if he comes through TCU is going to win a lot of games. Whom ever is the signal caller, the runners and pass catchers are talented and both groups are deep. Once the season starts the best of the group will get the majority of snaps. As for the line, three starters are back and the other returners are better than average. Look for the line to develop into one of the best in the conference, even if Ohio State’s defensive front might dominate them in game three. To sum up the Frogs offense, plenty of points and in some games not all will be needed. As the defense will be better than just good.
The run stoppers will do their job again as they have the down linemen and backers to stuff many teams. The secondary will get better with game action and should be prepared to show up against West Virginia, Oklahoma, and the others in the conference that tend to go to the air more often than not.
Patterson hopes to have better special teams play in 2018 and that might be the difference in close games. Nothing special right now, but things should improve with practice and game action
Look for the under/over in wins at seven but eight would be nice. And a much better season is possible. Ohio State in Jerry’s World will be a tough one to win and Texas follows in Austin. The other big road trip, to Morgantown to play West Virginia will be another tough one. With Oklahoma, Iowa State, and Oklahoma State all at home, the Frogs have a good chance to win these games, even if they might be close favorites or slight dogs. TCU might just be good enough to pin that first loss on OU and it would not be a stretch to see it.
Games TCU will win: Southern, SMU, Texas Tech, Baylor, Kansas
Games TCU should win but could lose: Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma State
Games TCU have an even chance to win: Texas, West Virginia
Games TCU will be dogs but could surprise: Ohio State, Oklahoma
Final Record: 8-4, and 5-4 in conference
Feature photo: AP
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