TCU is a very average team

[SpiffCoug]

I don't get all the hand wringing over TCU. They're an average team. We can beat them. They're not the juggernaut that has throttled us the last three years. Here are some defensive numbers on TCU:

Rushing Defense: #46 with 134 ypg
PER Defense: #87 with 136.74
Total Defense: #66 with 391 ypg
Scoring Defense: #57 with 25.5 ppg
Passing Defense: #100 wth 257 ypg

They've given up 40 points twice and have wins over AF, Louisiana-Monroe, Portland Sta and San Diego St.

We can beat this team.

[Mars]

Baylor, SMU, Air Force, and SDSU are all good teams this year, so their defense hasn't been bad in a vacuum. But you're right- They certainly aren't last year's Rose Bowl champs though.

[Cougs_Rule]

Well then, with the Riley express rolling along, we should have no problem winning. Right?

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[trueblue72]

Should we really be looking ahead to the TCU game? I mean we do have the mighty bengals of ISU next up!

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[Mars]

Well then, with the Riley express rolling along, we should have no problem winning. Right?

BYU is also a very average team. Hey, that's an improvement!

[88Coug]

TCU is in a rebuilding year. The defense is not up to previous years. The offense is basically kicking on all cylinders.

TCU lost in OT to a very good (and extremely motivated) SMU team (which will either win CUSA or finish second behind Houston).

TCU also lost a very close battle at a very highly motivated and Baylor, which had basically been scheming the entire off-season for that game.

TCU has had a lot of injuries (especially at LB) and the secondary is almost entirely new (and the returning starter was the weakest coverage man TCU had).

TCU is very beatable, but is also the 2nd best team in the MWC, having already won at SDSU and AFA. Who knows, TCU could still potentially beat Boise as well....

TCU is the only team that is standing between BYU and a 10-2 season....

[KYCoug]

If history has taught us anything, they also have a coach who knows how to get his team up to play the Y. Plus we are not playing them in Provo. Not saying we can't win this one cuz we can, but they are no pushover and when we do win it will be the best win of the regular season.

[Dcr36]

To me, the question is whether or not we can keep up with them on offense. TCU scores a lot of points, last week notwithstanding.

[Cougarbib]

I don't get all the hand wringing over TCU. They're an average team. We can beat them. They're not the juggernaut that has throttled us the last three years. Here are some defensive numbers on TCU:

Rushing Defense: #46 with 134 ypg
PER Defense: #87 with 136.74
Total Defense: #66 with 391 ypg
Scoring Defense: #57 with 25.5 ppg
Passing Defense: #100 wth 257 ypg

They've given up 40 points twice and have wins over AF, Louisiana-Monroe, Portland Sta and San Diego St.

We can beat this team.

We can. Might or might not. I am not much more worried about playing them on the (un)neutral field than I would be playing at SDSU or at AFA. Those would all be winnable - but we would be the underdog by 3-7 points in those games.

Here is the bright spot. If the term Defensive PER means that their opponents have averaged a PER of 136.74 - and we know Riles will have a PER above their average defensive PER, Riles is going to pin a 140 PER or higher on them and run for 50 yards and that will give us a good chance to win - unless penalties, turnovers, poor special teams play, or poor defensive play does us in.

With our secret weapon - Riles - and that rising tide - and Alisa - and that extra boost - we have a 33 1/3 % chance of puling off the upset, essentially, on the road.

[Cougarbib]

TCU had a bye Saturday. They have 0-6 New Mexico coming up. I hope neither them nor we are stupid enough to look past a weak opponent, but they did have a bye and a weak opponent whereas we had a ton of injuries in a physical battle followed by a weak opponent. Another scheduling edge on top of the (un)neutral field. It is not the field nor the fan count I worry about - it is the jet lag and lost time getting there and getting out of a normal routine becasue of extra travel distance. That would even be OK if those boys came to Provo or SLC to make up for it. Or if the neutral field were in Denver, or Vegas, or LA or Phoenix.