2011 TCU Horned Frogs Gambling Odds | Predictions

2011-2012 Football Previews – Mountain West Conference – TCU Horned Frogs

Eight months removed from going undefeated and edging out Wisconsin 21-19 in the Rose Bowl, Texas Christian University is heading into their final year as a member of the Mountain West Conference without their star quarterback.

2011-2012 MWC | Texas Christian Horned Frogs Football Preview
Coach: Gary Patterson
2010-11 Record: 13-0 (8-0)
TCU Horned Frogs Gambling Odds from Bodog.com to win BCS: 30-1
TCU Team Page – Players Stats – Roster – 2011 Schedule –>

When Andy Dalton graduated and moved on to the NFL, the TCU Horned Frogs lost nearly 3,500 yards of offense.

Dalton led his team to at least 10 wins in his final three years at TCU, and was the heart and soul of the team. Now the university will need to move on not only in terms of their roster, but in conferences as well.

So let’s take a look at how the team fares on each side of the ball going into the 2011 season, their last in the MWC.

Offense:

This team has to be considered for winning the conference, and even a national championship, despite loosing their starting quarterback, best wide receiver in Jeremy Kerley, and their beast of a left tackle in Marcus Cannon; all of whom moved on to play in the NFL.

In the NFL, the two-headed running attack is extremely popular. At TCU, they have a triple-headed monster of a rushing attack.

Ed Wesley leads the way as the starting running back having ripped off 1,078 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2010. Wesley is backed up two very young, very talented backs that will keep his legs fresh come postseason time. Matthew Tucker and sophomore Waymon James combined for over 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, and will no doubt be more polished this year.

Filling the void for Dalton will be either sophomore Casey Pachall or junior Yogi Gallegos.

Expect Pachall to win the starting job, mainly due to his ability to run the ball, something that is so crucial in Gary Patterson’s offensive system. Pachall should fair well behind an experienced offensive line, but the receiving corps has lost its star, so Pachall will have to find chemistry with someone new. Likely, with returning sophomore Josh Boyce, who had 34 catches for 646 yards and six touchdowns as freshman

Defense:

The Horned Frogs had the top-ranked defense in the nation thanks to great consistent play by nearly every position. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

They play team defense in every way, and it shows on game day when, in 2010, they only allowed 4.2 yards per play and only 12 points per game. But TCU lost arguably their top-two defensive players this offseason in defensive end Wayne Daniels and safety Tejay Johnson.

Johnson, who recently forwent entering the NFL to work with the deaf, was the leader of the team’s defense. During Johnson’s three years as a starter for TCU, the defense led the nation in total defense.

Johnson was the heart of the defense and he will surely be missed, but the team has young players ready to fill the void.

Junior Tanner Brock and senior Tank Carder lead a very talent linebacking corps, perhaps the best in the nation. Brock finished the season with 106 tackles, 5.5 for loss and two sacks.

With Johnson gone, Brock will need to step up into a leader role for the Horned Frogs, and if his play is any indication he will do see smoothly.

In the secondary, the Horned Frogs lost free safety Tejay Johnson, and corners Jason Teague and safety Alex Ibiloye. However, the unit returns senior defensive back Greg McCoy and senior safety Tekerrein Cuba. Overall, this unit still figures to be one of the top units in the MWC, but will likely struggle to put up the same numbers in 2011.

2011 TCU Prediction: 2nd in MWC

Unfortunately for TCU they will have to spend the year in the same conference as Boise State who beat them in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl back in 2009 to spoil their undefeated season.

2011 Texas Christian Horned Frogs Schedule

9/2/11 8:00 PM ET @BAY
9/10/11 3:30 PM ET @AIRFC
9/17/11 2:00 PM ET ULMON
9/24/11 7:00 PM ET PORST
9/30/11 8:00 PM ET SMU
10/8/11 10:30 PM ET @SDST
10/22/11 2:00 PM ET NMEX
10/28/11 8:00 PM ET BYU
11/5/11 2:00 PM ET @WYOM
11/12/11 3:30 PM ET @BOIST
11/19/11 3:30 PM ET COLST
12/3/11 2:30 PM ET UNLV