– Last Updated on June 8, 2018 7:51 am
2017 Football Preview – B12 – Horned Frogs
Looking for 2017 TCU Horned Frogs predictions? The Horned Frogs are still adapting to the B12. Since joining they have more than held their own but they are not going to be able to dominate all the time. They play different but they are kind of like a higher ceiling Kansas State. Great to root for and way more exciting to watch.
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- 2017-18 College Football Preview – TCU Horned Frogs
- Head Coach: Gary Patterson
- 2015 Record: 6-7
- TCU Horned Frogs Odds to win the 2017 FBS Championship: 80/1
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TCU seems unlikely to challenge for the B12 title this season but they should definitely be better than they were a year ago.
2017 TCU Horned Frogs Predictions: Team Strengths
Getting Back To Its Roots: Trevone Boykin was one of the most exciting players of the last few seasons but the key to TCU’s success under Gary Patterson has been defense. Last year they were middle of the pack but this year they can be better.
Leading the way is Travin Howard, an undersized linebacker who is a tackling machine. The former safety was born to go sideline to sideline and make plays.
Ty Summers is the other linebacker in their 4-2-5 scheme. Bigger but less rangy he is no less important to the defense. Both of these LBs had more than 120 tackles a year ago.
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In that 5 man secondary there are 4 starters returning which should improve a pass defense that was ranked in the 70’s last season. If the defense can improve as expected than the offense will not have to be as sharp.
Experience on Offense: TCU might not be the most talented team on offense but 9 of the 11 offensive starters are projected to be seniors.
Best among that bunch is probably RB Kyle Hicks. He led the team with just over 1000 yards last season and is strong enough to be a workhorse.
Kenny Hill was a highly touted transfer from Texas A&M. If he can put together a strong final season on campus this team can go far. At the very least he has to cut down on his mistakes.
2017 TCU Horned Frogs Predictions: Team Weaknesses
Ramping up the Passing Game?: The section above closed on the importance of QB Kenny Hill. No shocker as those QB guys are generally pretty important.
Here we are going to talk about the entire passing game as the receivers did Hill no favours last season, dropping more balls than any other group in the country.
It is essentially the same group returning and they have to be better. Taj Williams is a big play threat but it doesn’t scare defenses nearly as much if the ball is on the ground instead of the end zone.
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Last year the defense really struggled when teams pounded away at them with the running game.
This year TCU is making an effort to be more stout in the middle with 300 pounder Joseph Broadmax Jr at NT. He has the size but they need him to be a disruptive force.
Chris Bradley is an effective player inside whose production has gone up every season but he can get pushed around at just 270.
TCU Horned Frogs Prediction: 8-4
8 wins will be an improvement from last season but I don’t see this team rising up like it has in the past.
The schedule is tough this year as they are on the road against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, the two best team in the B12 this season.
Essentially this is a team that I expect to win the games they are supposed to. If there is improvement than there could be some money to be made as they blow out the teams they should and hang a little closer against the big boys than expected.
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We might know everything we need to know in week 2 at Arkansas. Not the best team in the SEC but one that could expose the weaknesses of TCU.
2017 TCU Horned Frogs Football Schedule
- 9/2/17 8:00 PM ET JKST
- 9/9/17 3:30 PM ET @ARK
- 9/16/17 3:30 PM ET SMU
- 9/23/17 TBD @OKST
- 10/7/17 TBD WVU
- 10/14/17 TBD @KSU
- 10/21/17 TBD KU
- 10/28/17 TBD @ISU
- 11/4/17 TBD TEX
- 11/11/17 TBD @OKLA
- 11/18/17 TBD @TTU
- 11/24/17 TBD BAY
What do you think about our 2017 TCU Horned Frogs predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2017!
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