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Will Texas fall into the TCU trap again? Take a look at who the experts feel will win this pivotal Week 5 matchup.
Texas and TCU will face off in a pivotal Big 12 matchup in Week 5. Continue reading “Texas vs. TCU: Who the experts are picking to win”
Texas is favored -5.5 in this matchup courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook. How confident is our staff that the Longhorns will cover?
Texas hasn’t had the greatest luck going up against Garry Patterson’s TCU teams recently. Continue reading “Longhorns Wire staff predictions for Texas vs. TCU”
Texas vs TCU prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, October 2
Texas vs TCU prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, October 2
Date: Saturday, October 2
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Amon G Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX
How To Watch: ABC
Record: Texas (3-1), TCU (2-1)
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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions
The offense has figured something out.
The 40-21 loss to Arkansas in Week 2 was a dud, but the Longhorns moved away from Hudson Card at quarterback to Casey Thompson, and all of a sudden it’s all blowing up.
Cranking up 620 yards in a 58-0 Rice was cool – but that was against Rice. Coming up with over 300 yards both rushing and passing in a 70-35 win over Texas Tech – and it could’ve been a whole lot worse – was the eye-opener.
The offense is ultra-efficient, there aren’t a ton of mistakes – the penalties and turnovers are kept to a minimum – and TCU doesn’t have the doesn’t have the pass rush to bust all of this up.
– Week 5 CFN College Football Expert Picks
Max Duggan.
The TCU junior quarterback threw for 231 yards and ran for two scores in last year’s 33-31 win over Texas. As a freshman, he threw for 273 yards and two touchdowns, and he once again ran for over 70 yards with a score.
He might not be the most accurate passer, but he’s been decent so far with over 200 yards in each of the first three games with seven touchdowns and two picks. Now it’s his job to continue being the Longhorn whisperer.
The Texas offense might be sensational, but the defense is struggling a bit. Arkansas was able to run wild, Louisiana and Texas Tech threw without too much of a problem, and TCU should be able to move the chains with a slew of third down conversions.
– Week 5 College Football Schedule, Predictions, Game Previews
Forget Oklahoma, TCU has been the big problem for Texas with six wins in the last seven years.
This Horned Frog D doesn’t have its normal stuff. SMU ran wild in a win last week, Cal threw too well in the previous game, and Texas is about to do both.
It’s Texas – its ability to biff games like this might transcend coaching eras – but Steve Sarkisian appears to have everything rolling at the right time.
Texas 37, TCU 30
Line: Texas -5, o/u: 65
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
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After watching the tape, Steve Sarkisian should be able to take some of what SMU did well vs TCU and apply it to his own game plan.
Back-to-back weeks, TCU will face off against an in-state rival in SMU and Texas. Gary Patterson will be hoping the latter goes better after letting the Mustangs retain the Iron Skillet, 42-34.
Now, the Big 12 rival will roll into town fresh off a 35-point thumping of Texas Tech. Offensive confidence is at an all-time high for Steve Sarkisian with Casey Thompson running the show at quarterback.
Sarkisian made it clear during his Monday press conference that Texas is going to continue the same preparation they have been. Losing their mindset just because of a hiccup in Fort Worth would be bad news. Especially after the past nine years.
“We’re also not going to buy the lie that we’re going to play the same TCU team that just played SMU on Saturday,” Sarkisian said.
Even so after watching the tape, Sarkisian should be able to take some of what SMU did well and apply it to his own game plan. With his offensive mind and the talent at his disposal, attacking Patterson’s famed defense might not be as big of a challenge this season.
Here are five things SMU did well against TCU and how Texas can do the same.
Offensive success, pending injuries, and kickoff times were all discussed.
There must not be a better feeling for Steve Sarkisian than walking into a Monday press conference off a win. Especially after dropping 70 points on Texas Tech in the Big 12 opener.
Sarkisian had a plethora of players to compliment after the 35-point win, mainly on the offensive side of the ball. Bijan Robinson and Xavier Worthy were the main points of conversation.
Now, all attention is being shifted to Texas’ bogey team throughout the past nine seasons, TCU.
Gary Patterson has dominated the Longhorns since joining the Big 12 back in 2019, winning seven of nine. The losses have come in heartbreaking fashion, with a two-point loss from last year and in 43 point thumpings in 2015.
Luckily, Sarkisian and his staff are 0-0 and will be looking to turn around the losing trend. Continuing to prepare the same way will be a big point of emphasis. Nothing should change just because TCU is on the schedule.
Injuries heading into the week and kickoff times were discussed by the head coach as well. Check out everything Sarkisian said during Monday’s press conference here.
Texas’ Week 5 game against TCU will kick off at 11 a.m. in Fort Worth. It is just the third time the two will have an early game since 2012.
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Texas fans have been gifted with kickoff times so far this season. The season opener against Louisiana was at 3:30, while Arkansas and Rice have both been in the later window.
The run of good luck seems to have expired.
On Oct. 2, Texas’ Week 5 matchup against TCU will kick off at 11 a.m. CDT in Fort Worth. It is just the third time the two will have an early game since the Horned Frogs joined the conference in 2012.
When on the road, getting an early game is more beneficial. Especially at a venue like Amon G. Carter Stadium. TCU fans will still provide an incredible environment but everybody knows a night game makes for better atmospheres.
Baylor at Oklahoma State and Kansas at No. 15 Iowa State won out for the coveted late kickoffs. You can check out the Big 12’s full schedule here:
Kick times and TV networks for #Big12FB on 10/2 👇
Texas at TCU, 11am CT on ABC
Oklahoma at Kansas State, 2:30pm CT on FOX
Texas Tech at West Virginia, 2:30pm CT on ESPN2
Baylor at Oklahoma State, 6pm CT on ESPN2
Kansas at Iowa State, 6pm on FS1 pic.twitter.com/yCCyKu2bnT— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) September 20, 2021
With Saturday’s game against Texas Tech also being an 11 a.m. kickoff, there is a chance Texas will have three straight early games. The Big 12/ESPN has not announced a time for the Red River Shootout but if we are going off history, 11 a.m. is likely.
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When Texas lost to TCU, it was the beginning of the end of Tom Herman. Steve Sarkisian must set the tone early with a win in Fort Worth.
When Keaontay Ingram fumbled on the one-yard line against TCU last season, it was the beginning of the end for Tom Herman. Max Duggan took a time expiring safety to give the Longhorns a 33-31 loss at home to the Horned Frogs and a 4OT loss to Oklahoma quickly followed the next week.
Off the field, problems began to arise as well. The Eyes of Texas became a huge controversy while recruiting began to fall apart as well. Four-star athlete Billy Bowman went across the Red River, citing he wanted to play for a better coaching staff. And the worst of them all, five-star quarterback Quinn Ewers decommitted before going off to Ohio State.
To say it was a mess would be an understatement. All broke loose because of (another) loss to Gary Patterson’s TCU.
Steve Sarkisian will have the opportunity to go up against the defensive guru the first weekend of October. Texas will be in the DFW area for two consecutive weekends, heading to the Cotton Bowl the following Saturday.
Before ever thinking about being on the same level as Oklahoma, Sarkisian must get over the TCU hump Texas has been stuck on for years.
Herman beat the Horned Frogs once during his four years. No. 17 TCU came to Austin in 2018 and left a 31-16 loser. Texas ended up in the Big 12 championship that season thanks to their 4-0 conference start.
2017, 2019, and 2020 all ended in TCU losses and rather disappointing seasons. Losing to in-state opponents stings but dropping seven on nine since they joined the Big 12 is detrimental.
So, why is getting a win on Oct. 2 so important for Texas? Outside of just finally being able to get one over TCU, it sets up the expectation for the rest of the season. A win in Fort Worth, and you can believe Sarkisian has his team in a better spot than Herman did last season.
TCU returns Duggan, their three-headed monster at running back headlined by former five-star Zach Evans, and their top receiver and former Texas commit Quinten Johnson. Three defensive players leave for the NFL but Patterson does not have a bunch of schmucks sitting around. His defense is always legit.
Texas’ talent level is certainly regarded at a higher level. Just look at the recruiting rankings on a yearly basis. Coaching has been the biggest difference between the two programs.
Win in Fort Worth, Sarkisian proves he is capable of winning games in difficult atmospheres, and Texas build momentum before facing Oklahoma and Iowa State. Find a way to snag a win over one of those two, you have a chance to be in the Big 12 championship. From there, the sky is the limit.
To add on, Texas will have an early opportunity to separate themselves from the middle of the Big 12. Not to say TCU is a middle-of-the-pack conference team — in LonghornWire’s latest power rankings, they were No. 4, just behind Texas.
However, a road win, against a Gary Patterson team expected to bounce back, would set the tone for the Sarkisian era.
Another factor of note: Chris Del Conte was the athletic director of TCU and left to become the athletic director of Texas. What does that tell you about what athletic department he thinks should be at a higher level? Dropping football games to his former school must eat him up inside.
To give people confidence in the Sarkisian hire, a few things must happen. Here are three things he must accomplish during his first season.
Spring practice is over and all focus has been shifted towards the season opener against Louisiana on Sept. 4. A summer full of recruiting visits and potential transfers is ahead, but everyone is eager to get back on the field.
Year one is always the most important when a new head coach takes over a program. Setting expectations, changing the culture, and inserting your system successfully is the goal. Steve Sarkisian has already done all three well from the time he had his first press conference in January.
Once the football begins, a new set of goals will take precedent for Sarkisian. To give fans, boosters, and Chris Del Conte confidence in the hire, a checklist of things must happen throughout the year. Here are three things Sarkisian must accomplish during his first season at Texas:
The first half recap of the regular season finale between the No. 16 Texas Longhorns and the TCU Horned Frogs.
The No. 16 Texas Longhorns (16-7) are in the middle of their rematch against the TCU Horned Frogs and are hoping to end the regular season on a high note before the Big 12 Tournament. At the half, the Longhorns lead the Horned Frogs 33-29.
Jericho Sims leads all scores with 10 points in what has been another dominant game from him thus far. He’s shooting 100% from the field and has a block.
Sims has had to pick up the slack from Texas’ guard trio of Matt Coleman III, Courtney Ramey and Andrew Jones. The trio is a combined nine points on 30% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range.
Aside from RJ Nembhard and Mike Miles, no one else from TCU has had much of an impact on the game, as they’ve scored 16 of the 29 points.
Kai Jones and Jase Febres have given the Longhorns a much needed boost off the bench for a combined 12 points on 50% shooting, which may need to continue if the starters can’t land shots.
Scoring Leaders at the Half:
Jericho Sims: 10 points, 2 rebounds
RJ Nembhard: 9 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Mike Miles: 7 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Texas’ regular-season finale against TCU will be on a rare Sunday conference game. Here at the BetMGM odds and how you can watch.
Texas’ regular-season finale against TCU will be on a rare Sunday conference game. After winning two in a row, Shaka Smart’s squad will be looking to head into the postseason with their longest winning streak since early January.
TCU is one of the three Big 12 teams not projected to make the NCAA Tournament. They are 12-12 overall and 5-10 within conference play. Offense has been a huge problem, averaging 67.7 points per game which ranks as No. 267 in the country. In the Feb. 13 matchup, the Horned Frogs scored 55.
With West Virginia’s loss to Oklahoma State on Saturday, Texas has the opportunity to take the No. 3 seed in the Big 12 tournament with a win. Replicating their February performance will ensure the Longhorns have a more favorable tournament opponent on Thursday.
Time: 6 p.m. CST
Location: Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth, Texas
TV: Big 12 Now/ESPN+
Stream: Watch ESPN
Radio: 104.9 FM The Horn
Line: Texas (-6.5)
O/U: 136.5
Money Line: TCU (+260) / Texas (-350)
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