In a crosstown rivalry matchup, the TCU Horned Frogs will make the short drive from Fort Worth to Dallas on Friday evening for a battle against the SMU Mustangs. The 4th-ranked Horned Frogs have had the upper hand recently in a series that dates back to 1915. Since 1999, TCU holds a 9-1 record in the series. The Horned Frogs hold a narrow 43-38-7 edge in the all-time series between the two former members of the Southwest Conference.
- TCU vs. SMU Point Spread: TCU -7.5 points
- TCU vs. SMU Over-Under: 56 points
- TCU vs. SMU Expert Picks: CLICK HERE
TCU Horned Frogs (3-0 SU, 1-1 ATS, 1-1 OV)
After winning a tough opener against Oregon State, TCU has outscored Tennessee Tech and Baylor in the last two weeks by a combined total of 107-17. The Horned Frogs appear on their way to a second straight undefeated regular season. With the exception of a November trip to Utah, TCU should be favored by at least a couple of touchdowns in all of its remaining contests this year.
Four-year starting quarterback Andy Dalton has accounted for seven touchdowns (4 pass, 3 rush) this season. He is completing 75% of his passes this year. Dalton directs a dynamic attack that is in the top 10 nationally in scoring and rushing offense. Sophomore running back Ed Wesley (384 yards) is tenth in the nation in rushing and has already produced four scoring runs for his squad.
The offense is complimented by a stout defensive unit. After leading the nation in total defense in 2009, TCU is fourth in the country in that category this year. Senior defensive lineman Wayne Daniels has stepped up early to lead the team in sacks and tackles for loss. In his 10th season with the program, head coach Gary Patterson has compiled a solid record of 88-28. In its last 32 games, TCU is 29-3 SU (20-10 ATS).
Next Game: TCU will play its first game outside of the Dallas metro area with a visit to Colorado State in its Mountain West Conference opener.
SMU Mustangs (2-1 SU, 2-1 ATS, 2-1 OV)
Following a tough loss at Texas Tech to open the season, SMU has rebounded to post home victories over UAB and Washington State. In the early going, the offense has been balanced. Sophomore quarterback Kyle Padron has already thrown eight touchdown passes this season while rushing for 116 yards.
On the ground, sophomore running back Zach Line has gained 276 yards and is averaging just under eight yards per attempt. The defense has made some strides since ranking 84th in the nation in total defense last season. The unit is 17th in the country in rushing defense heading into a big challenge against the Horned Frogs ground game. Sophomore linebacker Ja ‘Gared Davis leads the team with four sacks and eight tackles for loss.
After going 1-11 in his first season as head coach of the Mustangs, June Jones guided SMU to its first bowl game in 25 years in an 8-5 campaign last year. The program has had a tough time since some serious NCAA sanctions in the mid-eighties but Jones has some momentum building in Dallas.
Next Game: The Mustangs will return to Conference USA play next week with a trip to Rice.
