College Football Futures: The TCU Horned Frogs have gone from a paper power in the Mountain West Conference to an exposed team that was not ready to play in the big leagues after two underwhelming seasons in the Big 12 Conference. The Horned Frogs won their final 23 games as members of the Mountain West Conference but have gone just 6-12 since joining the Big 12. If ever there was a season that TCU would bounce back, however, this would figure to be the one as they return eight starters on each side of the line and should have a chip on their shoulder after a humiliating 4-8 season last year. TCU opened as a 250/1 long shot to win the 2014 BCS national championship and at 15/1 to win the Big 12 Conference. The Horned Frogs opened with an over under win total of 6.5.
Leaping Forward?
Head coach Gary Patterson enters his 14th season as head coach of TCU with plenty of fire and desire as he was clearly frustrated with his team’s play. Defense figures to be a strength of the team after last year’s rank of 24th overall in the nation and the offense has nowhere to go but up after a ranking a horrendous 106th overall last year.
Handicapper’s Notes
TCU has been a horrible board value as a home team with just two payouts in their last 11 games as a chalk with five out of their last seven home games going over the total. The Horned Frogs have failed to cover the spread in seven out of their last 12 games on the road as 11 out of their last 15 away games have gone under the total. TCU has been among the worst board values in all of college football as a favorite with just four payouts in their last 19 games as a chalk with eight out of their last 13 games as a favorite going under the total. The Frogs have been a solid dog with nine payouts in their last 14 games as a pup with nine out of their last 15 games as a dog going under the total.
Our Prognosis
TCU has proven to not have the depth to last a season in the Big 12 and 6.5 wins is a reach to bet over the win total.
