TopFrog
Lifelong Frog
DMN: Prediction: TCU takes SMU to the woodshed, keeps Iron Skillet in Fort Worth
By EJ Holland
ej.holland@highfieldmarketing.com
Matchup: TCU at SMU, 11 a.m., CBS Sports Network
On the line: The Iron Skillet, of course! SMU and TCU’s rivalry dates all the way back to 1915. The Horned Frogs lead the all-time series, 46-40-7, and have won 12 of the last 15 matchups including last year’s blowout victory in Fort Worth. The last time SMU took home the Iron Skillet was in 2011 when the Ponies pulled off a stunner and knocked off then-ranked TCU in overtime. As far as what the game means for the rest of SMU’s season, well, nothing really. Nobody expects SMU to compete with TCU this year let alone beat the Horned Frogs.
When SMU has the ball: The Mustangs will have a new starting quarterback for the third time in as many games. With Neal Burcham out for the season, Matt Davis recovering from an injury of his own and Kolney Cassel struggling, interim head coach Tom Mason has turned to fourth string walk-on quarterback Garrett Krstich. Dan Morrison is still calling the plays, so nothing will change scheme wise. The Mustangs will still air it out with Krstich, who is responsible for SMU’s biggest offensive play of the season — a 53-yard completion to Der’rikk Thompson against Texas A&M. But the bottom line is this offense is terrible. SMU ranks dead last in points per game and 110th in passing yards per game.
When TCU has the ball: With Sonny Cumbie and Doug Meacham now running the offense, TCU has turned into high-flying, passing machine. Yes, they’ve only played Samford and Minnesota, but this unit looks much improved after last year’s struggles. Texas A&M transfer Matt Joeckel was expected to start under center, but Trevone Boykin won the job and has been masterful so far, passing for 578 yards, rushing for 121 yards and scoring five total touchdowns. TCU won’t abandon its running game, but the Horned Frogs, who rank 24th in the nation in passing yards per game, are going to air it out more than SMU fans are used to seeing.
Prediction: TCU has one of the best defenses around, and that spells trouble for a downright awful SMU offense. And the fact that the Horned Frogs have taken a couple of steps forward offensively means this one could get out of hand early. TCU 45, SMU 6.
EJ Holland is the Associate Editor at Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. You can follow him on Twitter @EJSports4.
By EJ Holland
ej.holland@highfieldmarketing.com
Matchup: TCU at SMU, 11 a.m., CBS Sports Network
On the line: The Iron Skillet, of course! SMU and TCU’s rivalry dates all the way back to 1915. The Horned Frogs lead the all-time series, 46-40-7, and have won 12 of the last 15 matchups including last year’s blowout victory in Fort Worth. The last time SMU took home the Iron Skillet was in 2011 when the Ponies pulled off a stunner and knocked off then-ranked TCU in overtime. As far as what the game means for the rest of SMU’s season, well, nothing really. Nobody expects SMU to compete with TCU this year let alone beat the Horned Frogs.
When SMU has the ball: The Mustangs will have a new starting quarterback for the third time in as many games. With Neal Burcham out for the season, Matt Davis recovering from an injury of his own and Kolney Cassel struggling, interim head coach Tom Mason has turned to fourth string walk-on quarterback Garrett Krstich. Dan Morrison is still calling the plays, so nothing will change scheme wise. The Mustangs will still air it out with Krstich, who is responsible for SMU’s biggest offensive play of the season — a 53-yard completion to Der’rikk Thompson against Texas A&M. But the bottom line is this offense is terrible. SMU ranks dead last in points per game and 110th in passing yards per game.
When TCU has the ball: With Sonny Cumbie and Doug Meacham now running the offense, TCU has turned into high-flying, passing machine. Yes, they’ve only played Samford and Minnesota, but this unit looks much improved after last year’s struggles. Texas A&M transfer Matt Joeckel was expected to start under center, but Trevone Boykin won the job and has been masterful so far, passing for 578 yards, rushing for 121 yards and scoring five total touchdowns. TCU won’t abandon its running game, but the Horned Frogs, who rank 24th in the nation in passing yards per game, are going to air it out more than SMU fans are used to seeing.
Prediction: TCU has one of the best defenses around, and that spells trouble for a downright awful SMU offense. And the fact that the Horned Frogs have taken a couple of steps forward offensively means this one could get out of hand early. TCU 45, SMU 6.
EJ Holland is the Associate Editor at Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. You can follow him on Twitter @EJSports4.
