Photo Courtesy: Matthew Lynch
By Zach Walker
Game Info
SMU Mustangs vs #3 TCU Horned Frogs
Saturday – September 19 – 7:00 pm CT
TV: Fox Sports Network
Amon G. Carter Stadium – Ft. Worth
Records Before the Game
SMU Mustangs: 1-1 (0-0 in AAC)
TCU Horned Frogs: 2-0 (0-0 in Big XII)
Who’s got the advantage?
When SMU has the ball: The Mustangs got the job done against North Texas, but it took fortitude to overcome a poor, turnover riddled first half. Against TCU, those turnovers won’t be escape-able, they’ll be points on the board for the Horned Frogs. The plan is simple for the Mustangs versus the Horned Frogs, keep it simple, because Matt Davis shouldn’t expect a whole lot of pocket time, even with all the injuries on defense for TCU, including stud lineman James McFarland who’s yet to hit the turf this season. Truly, the only weapon that SMU has that can actually fight talent with talent, is Courtland Sutton, the freshman wide receiver, who has the size and strength to match the TCU talent at corner. If the Mustangs can stick with the running game, attacking the weak-point of the TCU defense, at this point in their season, a pair of freshmen playing the linebacking duo of the Horned Frogs’ 4-2-5 defense. ADVANTAGE: TCU
When TCU has the ball: I’d love to say that there’s something that SMU can do to mess up the TCU offense, but that’s just not going to happen. The Heisman contender Trevone Boykin, hasn’t really busted off the chain in this early section of hopefully, a magical season for Frogs, by Frogs. Not to say that Boykin isn’t expected to really get after it, but his offense is really going to be difficult for SMU wrap up. It’s an option-style offense, with some pre-play motion on a lot of plays. Aaron Green, the running back, is a good sized back, and he’s got some pretty speed to his game. But where the Mustangs are going to have their hands full, is with the TCU wide receivers. Josh Doctson and Kolby Listenbee did pretty good damage last season against the Mustangs, and in this high-pressure season, they’re going to need to step up, and that might be leaving footprints on the jerseys of SMU’s Horace Richardson and Ajee Montes. ADVANTAGE: TCU
What will it take for the Mustangs to win?
Every play going SMU’s way. Seriously, if the Mustangs can hang with Horned Frogs, like they did against Baylor, that’d be amazing, bordering on extraordinary. I’d love to be the insane person to actually pick the upset, but this just isn’t the game to go off of the rails. Matt Davis is going to need to remain poised, and seriously limit the amount of shots he takes in the open field, losing him isn’t worth it for the Mustangs, and I know that’s what coach Chad Morris is going to be telling Matt in preparation for this game.
Prediction: TCU 56 – SMU 17. All of that being said, I’m putting a ten down on SMU, just because.
