Oklahoma Vs. TCU Preview!

Photo by Willie Martin "Mr. Will"

Game Info
Oklahoma Sooners vs. TCU Horned Frogs
Saturday – October 4 – 2:30 pm
TV: FOX
Amon G. Carter Stadium – Ft. Worth

Big 12 Conference football is back, and it shall commence for TCU (3-0) and the crew from Oklahoma (4-0).

For the record (under Bob Stoops watch) Oklahoma is a perfect 5-0 in Ft. Worth. This weekend’s meetup will be special in that this will be the first time the Horned Frogs will be playing back to back games.

TCU will also be in the midst of playing eight consecutive weeks leading up to the holidays.

Saturday’s meeting will also be TCU’s first home game (as a ranked team) against a ranked conference opponent while the Frogs somehow were the only team to not have played in a conference game.

Gary Patterson’s crew has a 4-2 record against teams ranked in the Top 5. Only one of those games was played in Ft. Worth.

You might recall when that run began on a September day in 2005 with a 17-10 win in Norman, Oklahoma. Prior to that, the last time TCU defeated a highly ranked team was Texas in 1961, a 6-0 victory.

Historically Oklahoma holds a 9-4 lead all time in this Big 12 series. TCU won that first meeting in 1944 by a 34-19 count.

TCU leads the nation in fewest 1st downs allowed (40). 2nd in scoring defense (7.0 ppg), total defense (218.7 ypg) pass efficiency defense (79.6).

TCU: (under co-coordinators Doug Meacham and Sonny Cumbie) averaging 532.0 yards per game. On pace to set school records for 1st downs, passing yards and total offense. TCU is one of just two schools (Alabama the other) nationally to rank in the top-five defensively (2nd) and top-15 offensively (15th).

Last year special teams were the downfall for TCU in Norman when losing in heartbreaking fashion 20-17. Oklahoma enters Saturday’s game ranked #4 to TCU’s #25.

If TCU can get to 4-0 it will mark the fifth time in the last seven years that Gary Patterson has begun that successfully. The Frogs will need to find ways to keep Trevor Knight at bay. In four games Knight has thrown four touchdown passes with three interceptions, averaging 267 yards per game going to primary receivers Samaje Perine and Sterling Shepard. Seven combined scores for the aforementioned.

Defensively for the Sooners look for Dominique Alexander and Jordan Evans to try to disrupt the up-tempo kind of game that Trevone Boykin makes look so easy when running or throwing to players like Deante Gray or Josh Doctson-each with 13 receptions in 2014.

Boykin’s numbers in three games are even loftier. 64% completion rate with eight touchdowns and only one interception in the air with another three touchdowns, averaging 6.3 yards per carry.

As Trevone Boykin goes so go the Horned Frogs. We have seen this happen before where over the years the week before the the annual Red River Rivalry either Oklahoma or Texas suffers an embarrassing defeat that takes away from the luster of that game.

TCU has been very very consistent playing in the Red Zone. B.J. Catalon on the ground may very well spell trouble for the secondary for the Sooners. Do not be surprised if Kolby Listenbee becomes a dark horse with the deep routes.

Defensively Marcus Mallet and Paul Dawson (26 tackles each) have been one of the many reasons the defensive side of the ball has been successful at keeping teams out of the end zone in 2014.

Added Incentive
With LaDainian Tomlinson getting elected in to the College Hall Of Fame, the one time Horned Frog will be honored after the first period with a Campus Salute. Tomlinson will become the 11th Horned Frog enshrined into the Hall Of Fame.

Prediction: Bob Stoops finally suffers a shocking defeat in Ft. Worth on October 4.

Over the years TCU has gone 1-5 against Oklahoma in Ft. Worth, 3-3 in Norman, and 0-1 in Oklahoma City.

Look for a big game from B.J. Catalon and for Trevor Knight to get taken out of his comfort zone. Three picks and a TCU victory 27-26. A classic that will be replayed over time.

Based on the date, can we say, ’10-4 Good Buddy’?

Over and out in Big D.

Mr. Will