TCU on SI: How TCU’s Big 12 Hopes Shifted Without Playing a Snap

[TopFrog]

How TCU’s Big 12 Hopes Shifted Without Playing a Snap​

Even without playing, the Horned Frogs saw several results swing their way – and a few that didn’t – as the Big 12 race tightened up.​

Seth Dowdle

With no game for the Frogs this week, they didn’t have a chance to move the needle themselves. Fortunately for them, though, several results from yesterday’s slate went their way and might just help propel TCU closer to its goals.

Conversely, there were some results that didn’t go the way of the Frogs, which, while unfortunate, isn’t something they can control. As is always the case, the only way for TCU to take advantage of the breaks awarded to it is to win itself, and that’ll be a daunting task in its own right. Before we look forward to what may be in the weeks ahead, let’s reflect on the Saturday that was in the Big 12.

Read the rest at https://www.si.com/college/tcu/foot...s-shifted-without-playing-a-snap-01k937pz0afa

 

[Opintel]

No sprinkler-head attacks...right?

 

[KillerFrog InD KitchenSink]

On the very small chance we win out, we still need some help to make the CCG, but with 3 or 4 games left for everyone, that likely would work itself out.

 

[AroundWorldFrog]

Nothing like beating bye.

 

[Wexahu]

On the very small chance we win out, we still need some help to make the CCG, but with 3 or 4 games left for everyone, that likely would work itself out.

I think people underestimate how hard it is to finish Top 2 in this 16-team league. Whatever competitive advantage we hold over other programs, it's marginable. With the parity in the league and the number of teams, there's just hardly any margin for error. You can probably lose one game and feel pretty good about your chances in most years, but two losses and it's kind of a long shot.

 

[KillerFrog InD KitchenSink]

I think people underestimate how hard it is to finish Top 2 in this 16-team league. Whatever competitive advantage we hold over other programs, it's marginable. With the parity in the league and the number of teams, there's just hardly any margin for error. You can probably lose one game and feel pretty good about your chances in most years, but two losses and it's kind of a long shot.

Good points about the 16 team set up. Even more hopeless in the top heavy Big 10 and SEC.

The 10 team Big 12 with a CCG really was a great setup. Fun round robin, everybody plays everybody, easier to make the CCG, etc.

 

[Wexahu]

Good points about the 16 team set up. Even more hopeless in the top heavy Big 10 and SEC.

The 10 team Big 12 with a CCG really was a great setup. Fun round robin, everybody plays everybody, easier to make the CCG, etc.

To give you a good idea of the parity in the league.......1-4 UCF is favored by 1.5 points over 4-2 Houston on Saturday.

I don't think there's a chance in hell a 1-4 team is favored over a 4-2 team in the B10 or SEC.

 

[Froggy Style]

Good point on the difficulty to be in the top 2. I wouldn't mind seeing two 8 team round robin divisions so that it is (a bit more) clear who wins each division and plays in the championship game. Then change who is in each division each year.

 

[Fapping_Frog]

Good point on the difficulty to be in the top 2. I wouldn't mind seeing two 8 team round robin divisions so that it is (a bit more) clear who wins each division and plays in the championship game. Then change who is in each division each year.

Yeah, there really should be some divisions/pods or what ever the hell you want to call them to get some semblance of your chances.

 

[Cougar/Frog]

Yeah, there really should be some divisions/pods or what ever the hell you want to call them to get some semblance of your chances.

At least then it is only divisional tiebreakers, like when OU, Texas, and Tech were all 11-1, having only lost to each other, but OU got the B12 south spot....

 

[Froggy Style]

Yeah, there really should be some divisions/pods or what ever the hell you want to call them to get some semblance of your chances.

Right, you could have two divisions but switch the pods around each year within the divisions, but your pod stays the same every year. i.e.: TCU would likely be in a Pod with Baylor, Tech and OSU or Houston.

 

[froginaustin]

Right, you could have two divisions but switch the pods around each year within the divisions, but your pod stays the same every year. i.e.: TCU would likely be in a Pod with Baylor, Tech and OSU or Houston.

There’s no way to draw pods that are relatively compact for the 4 Texas schools (and maybe for the 4 Uta-zona schools) that doesn’t screw the other schools travel-wise.

I doubt any B12 school would be happy to play significantly more away games in the recruiting deserts— the western states, the midwestern states (except Ohio) and West Virginia— on a relatively permanent basis, than their conference mates do.

Politically, the B12 may be stuck with a divisionless scramble with maybe one permanent every-year rival for everyone.

 

[TopFrog]

 

[Froggy Style]

There’s no way to draw pods that are relatively compact for the 4 Texas schools (and maybe for the 4 Uta-zona schools) that doesn’t screw the other schools travel-wise.

I doubt any B12 school would be happy to play significantly more away games in the recruiting deserts— the western states, the midwestern states (except Ohio) and West Virginia— on a relatively permanent basis, than their conference mates do.

Politically, the B12 may be stuck with a divisionless scramble with maybe one permanent every-year rival for everyone.

Texas schools +OSU, MW schools (ASU, UA, BYU, Utah), Midwest (CU, KU, KSU, ISU), East (WVU, Houston, Cinci, UCF). Seems pretty logical to me.

 

[bmoney214]

Not sure about this one. If TCU wins out, BYU can't win out. If we find a way to go 4-0 then we would still need Sparky to lose one more game. Sparky would win a tiebreaker if there's a 3 way tie between us, tech and Sparky. Sparky beat both of us.

 

[TopFrog]

Not sure about this one. If TCU wins out, BYU can't win out. If we find a way to go 4-0 then we would still need Sparky to lose one more game. Sparky would win a tiebreaker if there's a 3 way tie between us, tech and Sparky. Sparky beat both of us.

I assume it means TCU beats BYU and they win their remaining games. But who knows.

 

[ShreveFrog]

There’s no way to draw pods that are relatively compact for the 4 Texas schools (and maybe for the 4 Uta-zona schools) that doesn’t screw the other schools travel-wise.

I doubt any B12 school would be happy to play significantly more away games in the recruiting deserts— the western states, the midwestern states (except Ohio) and West Virginia— on a relatively permanent basis, than their conference mates do.

4 4-team pods means you only have 1 or 2 permanent road opponents. No big deal.