The TCU Horned Frogs will look to keep the good times rolling in Forth Worth after a 12-1 season in 2009. Earning a at-large BCS bowl bid is no easy task for a team on the outside looking in, but TCU was selected for the Fiesta Bowl where they were soundly defeated by Boise State. The Frogs have won at least 10 games the past two seasons and have a very good shot at making it three in a row in 2010. Odds of TCU winning a national title are set at +1800. View the full conference breakdown in our 2010 Mountain West college football predictions article.
Andy Dalton was excellent at quarterback last season, throwing for over 2700 yards and connecting on 23 touchdown passes. His 512 yards rushing ranked fourth on the team and he added three more scores on the ground. The defending Mountain West offensive player of the year returns for his senior year with plenty of talent around him. Joseph Turner led the Frogs in rushing the past three seasons, but used up his eligibility. Sophomore Matthew Tucker was inserted in at running back during his first year and did not disappoint with 676 yards and eight touchdowns. He should slide into the starting role this season. Ed Wesley also saw over 100 carries as a freshman and was right behind Tucker with 638 yards on the ground. TCU loves to run the ball so these two will most likely see their numbers increase running behind an offensive line that returns four starters. Skye Dawson is a name to watch this year as the speedster runs a 10.5 100 meters and will be used more often. WR Jerm ey Kerley is a special type of offensive talent using his skills to excel in the punt and kickoff return game. His two punt returns for a touchdown and almost 27 yards/kickoff return earned him Special Teams Player of the Year. Kerley is no slouch as a wide receiver, however, snagging a team high 44 passes. The Frogs return their top four receivers giving Dalton numerous options to target.
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TCU's defense has ranked as the top defensive unit in four of the past ten seasons. They had a first round NFL draft choice (DE Jerry Hughes 1st team All American) and second round choice (LB Daryl Washington) depart after being major reasons why this defense is so good each year. Hughes collected 26.5 sacks the past two seasons, but the Frogs do return seven of their top eight on the d-line. DE Wayne Daniels was second on the team a year ago with 5.5 sacks and was a 1st team all conference selection. Penn State has been called linebacker U in the past, but with the type of players TCU is turning out every year at this position the distinction should be theirs. Junior Tank Carder is set to take over in the middle after a successful sophomore season resulted in 89 tackles including eight behind the line of scrimmage. Defense coordinator Dick Bumpas places a huge burden on his safeties in the 4-2-5 system he runs. FS Tejay Johnson is the best of the bunch and will team with experienced vets Tyler Luttrell and Alex Ibiloye as the last line of defense.
The Frogs have their sights set on winning at least 10 games for the third consecutive season. A neutral site game with Oregon State in the opener will be their toughest non conference game. Two of their other three games prior to conference play are not outside the state of Texas. TCU is the odds on favorite to repeat as Mountain West champions, but Utah has a very talented team also. The two will meet up at Utah on November 6th in a game that will likely decide the MWC champion. I believe TCU will finish 10-2 and second to Utah in the conference.
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