By Zach Walker
Game Info
TCU Horned Frogs vs. SMU Mustangs
Saturday – September 27 – 11:00am
TV: CBS Sports Network
Gerald J. Ford Stadium – Dallas
Records before the Game
TCU Horned Frogs: 2-0 (0-0 in Big XII)
SMU Mustangs: 0-3 (0-0 in AAC)
Two players for both teams, to watch:
TCU Horned Frogs
QB Trevone Boykin – Boykin isn’t the same kind of player that Kenny Hill is, and that can be good or bad. Boykin against Minnesota, threw for 258 yards and two touchdowns, but he wasn’t particularly efficient, completing only 58 percent of his passes while throwing an interception. But where the SMU defense should be worried is his ground work, Boykin had twelve rushes for 92 yards. A dual-threat quarterback can keep the Mustangs’ linebackers busy all game long.
WR Josh Doctson – Doctson is a tall, lean receiver who has incredible hands, of which he showcased against Minnesota, when he pulled in two scores. Doctson has the size and speed to keep Ajee Montes and Shakiel Randolph trying to keep a lid on him.
SMU Mustangs
QB Garrett Krstich – Krstich came into the game on the Mustangs’ fifth drive, and after a rocky first possession, he led the second scoring drive of the season, by showcasing his wheels, and willingness to spark his team with his head-first approach to his rushes. He has the mobility, but he needs to establish a groove through the air. Krstich found Der’rikk Thompson for a couple of good gainers, but they’ve got to connect with these earlier in the game, but as this will be Krstich’s first start, perhaps he’s the spark to light the fire.
WR Darius Joseph – Unfortunately for Joseph, the offense has been awful. His 2013 season was absolutely excellent, 103 catches, and he’s absolutely nowhere near that kind of production this year, three catches through three games. And if the Mustangs want to start moving the chains, they need to get the ball into Joseph’s hands.
What will it take for the Mustangs to win?
Well, to start, they need to pick up a first down sometime during the first quarter. They need to stay with a healthy balance of run and pass. They really just need to be very fundamental in all phases of the game. The defense needs to force the Horned Frogs into third down situations, because against Minnesota, the Frogs were two for twelve on third downs.
Prediction: TCU 45 – SMU 21: Not to say that the Mustangs can’t get better in a week’s time, but the Horned Frogs had TWO weeks to prepare for this game, even though they’re likely looking forward to the matchup against the Sooners, so maybe the Mustangs can catch the Horned Frogs off-guard early in the game.
