2007 Mountain West Football, "the team to beat TCU

For TCU Horned Frogs, the success or failure of the Mountain West Conference is all about on Thursdays.

TCU won the league title in 2005 by going unbeaten, beginning with an overtime victory over defending champion Utah in a game televised nationally on Thursday night. Last season, the Frogs played more or less the way out of contention with consecutive losses to Brigham Young University in Utah and Thursdays.

And here they are again, having lost only two games in his two seasons as members of the CMM, and the frog appears to be at the heart of things again. What games could decide the 2007 championship? "When" is a better question and the answer is Thursday.

TCU will host Utah (Oct. 18) and visiting Brigham Young University (Nov. 8) in the competition Thursday. Unlike the last two years, when the first frog two league games were against some combination of the Utes and Cougars, schedule this season will allow to build drama.

TCU is favored because the best defense in the league. Frogs are led by linemen Tommy Blake and Chase Ortiz and LB Jason Phillips.

There are some questions on offense, but RB Aaron Brown and a solid line, give accomplished sufficient response. And pushing Utah and BYU in the calendar, Frogs will have some time to develop their new quarterback, Marcus Jackson or Andy Dalton.

Utah quarterback has no problem with Brian Johnson back after redshirt while recovering from knee surgery that sidelined him at the end of the season 2005. The Utes should have the best offense in the league, but they are young on defense, with the secondary having lost the versatile Eric Weddle, a draft 2nd choice of the NFL throughout the year.

BYU losses were great on offense, namely quarterback John Beck 2nd round choice. The Pumas will become at Arizona State transfer Max Hall.

TCU horn FROGS

KEY INFORMATION EQUIPMENT
2006 RECORD: 11.2 (6.3 ML units) 9-3 (75.0%) ATS, O / U: 6-6
HEAD COACH: Gary Patterson, 7th year
STADIUM: Amon G. Carter Stadium (Grass)
RETURNING STARTERS - OFFENSE: 6, THE DEFENSE: 9
RETURN Lettermen: 48, LOST: 23
CALENDAR 2007
Date - Opponent
9/1/2007 - Baylor
9/8/2007 - Texas
9/13/2007 - Air Force (C)
9/22/2007 - SMU
9/29/2007 - COLORADO ST (C)
10/6/2007 - Wyoming (C)
10/13/2007 - Stanford
10/18/2007 - Utah (C)
11/3/2007 - NEW MEXICO (C)
11/8/2007 - at BYU (C)
11/17/2007 - University of Las Vegas (C)
11/24/2007 - San Diego St (C)
2006 MINUTES OF SITUATION
Home: 5-1 SU, 4-1 ATS
Visitor: 6-1 SU, 5-2 ATS
Conference: 6-2 SU, 5-3 ATS
as preferred ATS: 9-2
as Underdog ATS: 0-1
2006 RATINGS major strengths (NCAA Rank)
Differential Score: 16.9 (10)
StatFox play better Factor: 13.6 (18)
Differential Yards: 171.3 (3)
Yards per game differential: 1.76 (8)
Turnover Differential: 0.46 (30)
Strength of Schedule: 29.23 (87)

INTRODUCTION AND REVIEW:

TCU fans will spend the summer thinking about one thing: Texas. Horned Frogs are still better than recall have a full schedule MWC to play after the trip to Austin. That was a problem last season when the frogs experienced a lull for two matches after a disturbance Texas Tech's emotional Although regrouped to win their last eight games, they were out of the race in the league in October. They should last much longer in this season, although only because their toughest games against Utah and BYU is not scheduled until later in the season. That will give them time to regroup, regardless of what happens against Texas. If a young quarterback can develop quickly and complement an excellent defense, TCU will have a chance to beat everybody, including the Longhorns.

OFFENSE

TCU's offense could not produce enough points to keep BYU despite winning 400-yards and struggled the next week in Utah, but was otherwise effective all season and explosives, sometimes. The big question is QB Jeff Ballard replaced with Marcus Jackson have played some last season and now competes with Andy Dalton. The system of horned frogs' is built around its corridors, and Aaron Brown returns after a run of 66.8 yards per game. TCU also has a solid offensive line, led by Matty Lindner, but lost the NFL recruits Herbert Taylor. Frogs ranked 2nd in the Mountain West, with 408 total yards a game, but may have trouble maintaining that level of production with a new quarterback.

DEFENSE

After fielding one of the best defenses in the country last season, while exposure only BYU QB John Beck, TCU should be just as good or better. Everything starts from the beginning with Blake and Tommy Chase Ortiz, two highly productive linemen. Blake recorded seven sacks and Ortiz combined for 27.5 tackles for loss. Anything overlooked is usually covered by LB Jason Phillips. Frogs should again be solid in the secondary, S Marvin White but lost to the NFL. TCU coach Gary Patterson is a defensive genius and his teams almost always play consistently on that side of the ball. The Frogs allowed only 234 yards per game in 2006.
PREDICTION

The conference race should come up a night game Thursday, November 8: TCU at BYU. Frogs are 14-2 in two seasons of the Mountain West play, and everything suggests it will be one of the best teams League again. The other big test is another competition on Thursday night when Utah comes to Fort Worth on October 18. Apart from having to play Texas at the beginning, the program allows frogs an opportunity to develop its offensive before arriving in the flesh of the conference season.

TCU is 5-0 on the offensive against the poor teams - an average TCU was 6-0 ATS after playing their last game on the road last season
TCU Was 6-1 ATS vs. poor passing defenses - allowing a draft. PCT. 58% or worse last season
TCU is 6-1 SU & ATS when the line is 3 to -3 in the L3 seasons

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