TCU poised for BCS bid
07/31/2007 08:11 AM
By: Chance Harper
The Mountain West Conference has been flying under the radar, especially since Urban Meyer left Utah for Florida. But the TCU Horned Frogs hope to change that and get noticed this season. More than just a possible blip on the '07 screen, TCU has a Sept 8 date with the Texas Longhorns that could propel the Frogs into the national spotlight.
The weather forecast in the Mountain West calls for Frogs.
TCU poised for BCS bid
The MWC doesn’t get much attention these days; blame Urban Meyer for leaving the Utah Utes two years ago for a plum coaching position with the Florida Gators. That has worked out pretty well thus far for Meyer and his new employers.
Meanwhile, the Big Three in the MWC -- the Utes, the TCU Horned Frogs, and the BYU Cougars -- have thrived outside the national spotlight, going a combined 30-9 straight up and a spectacular 26-9-2 against the spread last year.
The 2007 season looks like it will go to the Frogs. BYU is getting the shortest odds in the conference to go on to the national championship at 75-1, but it’s going to be tough sledding for the Cougars. The defending MWC champions watched quarterback John Beck, the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2006, graduate and go to the Miami Dolphins. Beck became a star under coach Bronco Mendenhall and offensive coordinator Robert Anae; Cougars supporters hope they can work the same magic with sophomore QB Max Hall. If they do, BYU has a stellar enough defense to beat most of the MWC. However, finishing the season at home against TCU, on the road at Wyoming, and home again for Utah is a tough row to hoe.
Getting the Horned Frogs (100/1 for the BCS championship) at home is a break for BYU. But it’s looking more and more like TCU is going to put together the kind of season that could legitimately land them in a BCS bowl game. The Frogs are also relying on a sophomore QB, Marcus Jackson, to become the new starter. His rushing skills seem tailor-made for a team that includes junior running back Aaron Brown, who should rack up some big mileage behind fullback/human snowplow William Jackson.
The bigger story in Fort Worth, though, is the indomitable Frogs defense. They held opponents to 12.3 points per game last year, and with the return of senior ends Tommy Blake and Chase Ortiz, that number could drop into single digits.
One problem of note for handicappers: a high-profile road game on Sept. 8 against the Texas Longhorns will expose TCU to the betting public. A competitive showing by the Frogs could strip their value against the spread even as they threaten to run the MWC table.
Utah (250-1) was the third wheel in 2006, but don’t expect this program to get left in the dust. The Utes appear to have the best chance to challenge TCU for the conference title. QB Brian Johnson is back in charge of the mighty Utes spread offense after taking a year off to heal a torn ACL. Johnson completed 63.6 percent of his passes in 2005; with virtually everyone else on the offense returning for 2007, Johnson should be the class of the conference.
The Utes questionable defense and a very tough schedule prevent them from posing a true threat to TCU. But if Utah puts a beating on the hated Cougars in Provo on Nov. 24, there might be a parade anyway.
Air Force (500-1) and UNLV (750-1) were the only other Mountain West representatives on the BCS championship futures market at press time. This is more of a nod to betting demand than a true measure of their title potential -- which is microscopic. They’ll be primed for a battle to stay out of the MWC basement, although the Falcons have a shot at exceeding expectations with a soft schedule and a new head coach in Troy Calhoun.
The programs at Colorado State and San Diego State appear incapable of making much noise, with Rams supporters praying the return of running back Kyle Bell will resuscitate the offense and keep beloved coach Sonny Lubick’s reputation intact. That leaves Wyoming and New Mexico to contend once again for bowl eligibility. The Lobos have the talent to creep up on the Big Three, but they also have to play the Cowboys in Laramie. Tough luck.
07/31/2007 08:11 AM
By: Chance Harper
The Mountain West Conference has been flying under the radar, especially since Urban Meyer left Utah for Florida. But the TCU Horned Frogs hope to change that and get noticed this season. More than just a possible blip on the '07 screen, TCU has a Sept 8 date with the Texas Longhorns that could propel the Frogs into the national spotlight.
The weather forecast in the Mountain West calls for Frogs.
TCU poised for BCS bid
The MWC doesn’t get much attention these days; blame Urban Meyer for leaving the Utah Utes two years ago for a plum coaching position with the Florida Gators. That has worked out pretty well thus far for Meyer and his new employers.
Meanwhile, the Big Three in the MWC -- the Utes, the TCU Horned Frogs, and the BYU Cougars -- have thrived outside the national spotlight, going a combined 30-9 straight up and a spectacular 26-9-2 against the spread last year.
The 2007 season looks like it will go to the Frogs. BYU is getting the shortest odds in the conference to go on to the national championship at 75-1, but it’s going to be tough sledding for the Cougars. The defending MWC champions watched quarterback John Beck, the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2006, graduate and go to the Miami Dolphins. Beck became a star under coach Bronco Mendenhall and offensive coordinator Robert Anae; Cougars supporters hope they can work the same magic with sophomore QB Max Hall. If they do, BYU has a stellar enough defense to beat most of the MWC. However, finishing the season at home against TCU, on the road at Wyoming, and home again for Utah is a tough row to hoe.
Getting the Horned Frogs (100/1 for the BCS championship) at home is a break for BYU. But it’s looking more and more like TCU is going to put together the kind of season that could legitimately land them in a BCS bowl game. The Frogs are also relying on a sophomore QB, Marcus Jackson, to become the new starter. His rushing skills seem tailor-made for a team that includes junior running back Aaron Brown, who should rack up some big mileage behind fullback/human snowplow William Jackson.
The bigger story in Fort Worth, though, is the indomitable Frogs defense. They held opponents to 12.3 points per game last year, and with the return of senior ends Tommy Blake and Chase Ortiz, that number could drop into single digits.
One problem of note for handicappers: a high-profile road game on Sept. 8 against the Texas Longhorns will expose TCU to the betting public. A competitive showing by the Frogs could strip their value against the spread even as they threaten to run the MWC table.
Utah (250-1) was the third wheel in 2006, but don’t expect this program to get left in the dust. The Utes appear to have the best chance to challenge TCU for the conference title. QB Brian Johnson is back in charge of the mighty Utes spread offense after taking a year off to heal a torn ACL. Johnson completed 63.6 percent of his passes in 2005; with virtually everyone else on the offense returning for 2007, Johnson should be the class of the conference.
The Utes questionable defense and a very tough schedule prevent them from posing a true threat to TCU. But if Utah puts a beating on the hated Cougars in Provo on Nov. 24, there might be a parade anyway.
Air Force (500-1) and UNLV (750-1) were the only other Mountain West representatives on the BCS championship futures market at press time. This is more of a nod to betting demand than a true measure of their title potential -- which is microscopic. They’ll be primed for a battle to stay out of the MWC basement, although the Falcons have a shot at exceeding expectations with a soft schedule and a new head coach in Troy Calhoun.
The programs at Colorado State and San Diego State appear incapable of making much noise, with Rams supporters praying the return of running back Kyle Bell will resuscitate the offense and keep beloved coach Sonny Lubick’s reputation intact. That leaves Wyoming and New Mexico to contend once again for bowl eligibility. The Lobos have the talent to creep up on the Big Three, but they also have to play the Cowboys in Laramie. Tough luck.
