TCU Horned Frogs at Utah Utes College Football Preview

TCU heads out on the road for a second consecutive week in a game that will likely determine the Mountain West Conference champion.  The Horned Frogs are coming off an impressive 48-6 victory over the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels in Las Vegas, out-gaining them by a 530-197 margin.  “I didn’t think we played that well on both sides of the ball, but we did what we needed to do,” said head coach Gary Patterson. The team has managed to outscored its last five conference opponents by an astounding 189-16 margin and surrendered just two touchdowns in five October games overall.  Over the last six seasons, TCU is 29-1 in day games and 55-4 in Saturday contests.  The team is 13-6 ATS in its last 19 conference games.

The Horned Frogs last regular-season loss took place at this week’s venue and the program has actually never won in Salt Lake City.  “They know us,” Patterson stated.  “We’ve been playing them for years.  There’s no hiding in this game coming up.”  TCU’s offense remains balanced after gaining 273 rushing yards and 257 passing yards last week, while the offensive line has allowed quarterback Andy Dalton to be sacked just five times all season.  The defense keeps improving upon its national-best total defense, allowing an average of 217.3 yards per game, nearly 17 yards better than Ohio State.  In surrendering just 8.7 points per game, TCU is on pace for the NCAA’s lowest scoring defensive mark since 1988.

Utah managed to get out of Colorado with a 28-23 win over Air Force by withstanding a 13-point fourth-quarter rally by the Falcons.  “It was a little frustrating because we has a chance to put the opponent away,” head coach Kyle Whittingham stated.  “But the bottom line is, we are 8-0.”  The Utes will be trying to preserve the nation’s third-longest active home winning streak, which is currently 21 games, dating back to a September 15, 2007 victory over UCLA.  The streak currently ranks behind only Oklahoma (35) and Boise State (29).  Utah is 6-1 ATS this season and 24-10 ATS as an underdog of 3.5 to 10 points.

The Utes spread the ball around offensively and have had 16 players score touchdowns this season, which is tied for the most in the country.  Utah’s 45.2 scoring average is not far off from the school record of 45.33 points per game, set in 2004.  Few teams are more effective in the red zone, converting on 90 percent of their trips inside the 20 (35-for-39).  Sophomore quarterback Jordan Wynn is 6-0 as a starter this year and 9-2 in his career.  He ranks 11th in the nation and leads the MWC in passing efficiency.  Much of the signal caller’s success can be attributed to an offensive line that has allowed just three sacks on the season.

Bettors will be interested in backing the Horned Frogs due to their 23-9-1 ATS mark in the last 33 conference games, while the Utes are 5-0 ATS as a home underdog.