TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

Head Coach:  Gary Patterson  (19th year   167-63)

Last Year:  7-6  and 4-5 in conference

Gary Patterson wins games in this league and only Oklahoma has won more in the past few years than his Horned Frogs  With a tested group of players returning to Fort Worth, the Toads have an opportunity to challenge for a spot in the title game in December.  But the road to Jerry’s World will not be easy.  Grouped with Baylor, Iowa State, and Oklahoma State, TCU has to separate from those teams.  Win all three and the Frogs might be in business.  But losing conference games against them could duplicate another losing conference season. TCU will not beat Texas or Oklahoma in 2019 and a third conference loss would put an end to a championship.  The talent is there and Patterson does a great job of coaching so give the Frogs a chance to make the big game in December.

Offense:  Can the Frogs get the quarterback play needed to move up the ladder in the Big Twelve for 2019?  Head coach Gary Patterson still has not chosen the man to lead the offense as of this weekend.  Alex Delton, transfer from Kansas State, and freshman Max Duggan are in the hunt to start.

Asked what QBs are separating themselves, Patterson said: “Max and Alex. … Both of them, I’m really excited about how we threw the deep ball….”   If TCU does not get the play out of either of these two we could see another year of ineffectiveness even with nine starters returning.

Jalen Reagor is the key offensive star. He had 72 receptions last year and is in the top echelon of receivers in the league..  Only 5’11, he is going to play on Sundays next year  At 195 pounds, he is not only fast but very hard to tackle.    The other pass catchers are experienced with quality. If the ball gets to them TCU can be a very good passing team. But we get back to the quarterback play. The offensive line is solid and should allow for a potent running game.  Their pass protection should not be an issue.  As for a feature back, that is still unclear but offensive coordinator Sonnie Cumbie has a slew of choices and all are speedy with power.  The TCU run game will be very good in 2019  Grade: B

Defense;  Gary Patterson and coordinator Chad Glasgow have six returning starters and even with the loss of two excellent ends, the Frogs should still be solid.  The turnover margin went from a -12 (first eight games) to a +7 (in the final five) and that again will be key.  This defense will be better than average for the Big Twelve and good enough to win games.  Always expect TCU to be well coached with good talent on this side of the ball.  Grade: B

Special teams:  Jordie Sandy comes from Australia to punt rugby style.  Last in punting in conference in 2019, anything will be better  The placement and return game is average at best.  Grade: C-

TCU, like some others in the conference, have the opportunity to be better than just good.  Getting a quarterback to produce with their excellent coaching staff, TCU could make it all the way to the Big Twelve championship.  We shall see.

Games TCU will win:  Arkansas Pine-Bluff (H); SMU (H); Kansas (H);

Games TCU should win:  Kansas State (A); Texas Tech (A); West Virginia (H)

Games TCU has a dog fight:  Purdue (A); Iowa State (A); Oklahoma State (A); Baylor (H)

Games TCU will lose: Texas (H); Oklahoma (A)

Season prediction:  8-4  5-4 in conference

(As of this 7th post on my Big Twelve pre-season preview, my previous rankings are:

5,  Iowa State
6. Oklahoma State
7. Texas Tech
8. West Virginia
9. Kansas State
10. Kansas)