Texas vs. TCU: Preview and Prediction
Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming Big 12 match up in our Texas vs. TCU preview and prediction.
Game Info
11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 3rd, 2020, 2:30 p.m. CST, DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin Texas
TV: FOX
Texas Radio: Longhorn Radio Network (Craig Way)
TCU Radio: WBAP 820 AM, KTCU 88.7 FM (Brian Estridge)
Spread: Texas -13
Fun Fact: Since beginning Big 12 play in 2012, TCU is 6-2 against Texas, including a 3-1 record in Austin.
Key Players
TCU Horned Frogs
QB Max Duggan
Duggan entered the game in the third quarter last week in place of Matthew Downing and lit it up going 16 of 19 for 241 yards and three touchdowns. He looked so much more comfortable in the pocket than he did a year ago. If that guy shows up on Saturday and moving forward, TCU’s offense has the type of firepower it hasn’t had since possibly the Trevone Boykin era.
LB Garrett Wallow
Wallow is one of the best linebackers in the Big 12 and picked up right where he left off last season with a team-high nine tackles against Iowa State, with two tackles for loss and one sack. The TCU defense has studs at every level, but it’s Wallow who has a lot on his plate at linebacker and will need to be effective against the run and pass against an explosive Texas offense.
Texas Longhorns
RB Keontay Ingram
Ingraham had 12 carries for 89 yards last week against Texas Tech for 7.4 yards per carry. TCU’s run defense had its struggles last week in the opener against Iowa State allowing 213 rushing yards on 28 carries for 7.6 yards per carry. That’s unusual for a TCU defense, but with the way Tom Herman wants his offense to operate, expect him to see if he can find that same kind of success on the ground and that starts with Ingram.
LB Joseph Ossai
Ossai is one of the most versatile and feared defensive players in the Big 12 Conference. He had a quiet game last week with two tackles against Texas Tech, but last season he was top 10 in the Big 12 with 90 tackles and was 7th in the conference with 13.5 tackles for loss. Now he gets to go up against a TCU offensive line that gave up seven sacks to Iowa State last week. He should be licking his chops.
Key Storylines
TCU Horned Frogs
The Horned Frogs need to show some of the offensive prowess they did in the second half against a very good Iowa State defense when they scored 27 points with big plays and three touchdowns of at least 27 yards. TCU piled up 499 yards of offense and was 8 of 16 on third downs. Keep those offensive numbers piling up against a Texas team that, despite its win over Texas Tech, allowed 440 yards of offense and 56 points. Gary Patterson will figure out some issues on defense, but it’s the offense that needs to prove itself.
Texas Longhorns
Can UT get to the QB? As noted above, Texas may have several opportunities at that this week based on TCU’s offensive line that played poorly last week and is turning over new faces from last season. Also, the Texas defense needs to start doing that. Last season, Texas ranked 9th in the Big 12 with just 14 sacks in nine Big 12 games. That is one of the reasons DC Todd Orlando lost his job. Now it’s up to new DC Chris Ash to figure out how to get to the quarterback. It hasn’t happened thus far as Texas has just two sacks in two games.
Prediction
TCU 31, Texas 28
The Horned Frogs always play well against Texas. They’re 6-2 against Texas since joining the Big 12 in 2012 and 3-1 in Austin. Gary Patterson gets his guys juiced up for the Longhorns. And the biggest woe for TCU is its offensive line, but Texas hasn’t been able to effectively get to the QB in two years, so why would it suddenly start now. This is going to be a great game to kick off the day for the Big 12, and I’m calling TCU to pull off the upset.
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