Two teams from the Big 12 that are fresh off of byes will square off this Halloween week for some Thursday night football thrills.
The West Virginia Mountaineers certainly needed the previous week off, as they have lost three straight games heading into the bye. Meanwhile, the TCU Horned Frogs hope that the rest period did not put their scorching seven-game unbeaten streak to start the season in jeopardy.
Read on as we tackle this pivotal inter-conference clash from Fort Worth. In the meantime, check out our updates for the national title and Heisman Trophy races as well to get in on some exciting midseason NCAA college football futures betting action.
[sc:NCAAFArticles ]West Virginia Mountaineers vs. TCU Horned Frogs
Where: Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth
When: Thursday, October 29, 7:30 PM ET
Line: West Virginia Mountaineers at TCU Horned Frogs – view all NCAA Football lines
TV Broadcast: FS1
Betting on the West Virginia Mountaineers (3-3, 0-3 Big 12)
[sc:NCAA240banner ]After a 3-0 start to the season, the West Virginia Mountaineers are suddenly reeling with three consecutive losses – all against ranked teams within their own conference.
The latest of those defeats was a 62-38 drubbing courtesy of the No. 2 Baylor Bears. And with TCU up next, it seems as if WVU’s role as a doormat for the Big 12’s elite schools is likely to continue.
However, quarterback Skyler Howard was actually relatively great in that loss. Howard went 18-of-37 for 289 passing with four touchdowns and a pick against Baylor. While those bevy TDs were nice indeed, that lone interception is still one too many, as the junior play-caller has now been picked off at least once over the last four games after going error-free in the first couple of weeks of the season.
Part of the reason for Howard’s struggles is that the team’s offensive line is not doing a good enough job of protecting him. WVU’s O-line has allowed its QB to be sacked 19 times this season – tied for most sacks given up in the conference.
Still, Howard – a Fort Worth native himself – will likely put on a show in front of his hometown friends and family, and should keep West Virginia competitive throughout the game against the Horned Frogs. Also, the Mountaineers’ defense has been pretty superb in creating turnovers. The team has 13 interceptions this 2015 – best in the Big 12 and five picks more than the next team on the list – to keep TCU’s Trevone Boykin in check.
West Virginia has lost its last three games on the road with the total going over in all of those contests.
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Betting on the TCU Horned Frogs (7-0, 4-0 Big 12)
Another unranked opponent, another victim to the No. 4 TCU Horned Frogs. Before last weekend’s bye, the Horned Frogs took care of another run-of-the-mill team with a 45-21 win over the Iowa State Cyclones.
While 45 points is indeed impressive, that game was actually the first time that TCU didn’t tally 50 or more points in five contests. However, that didn’t stop phenom Trevone Boykin from recording his third 400-yard passing game of the season. Boykin was surgical in the victory, finishing with 436 yards for four touchdowns and no picks on 27-of-32 passing. He connected with 10 different receivers in that game, with seven of them catching two or more passes.
And in spite of the wide aerial distribution, Boykin still banked on his top two senior wideouts to deal the most damage against the Cyclones. Josh Doctson had ten receptions for 190 yards and a pair of scores, while Kolby Listenbee added half a dozen more grabs for 101 yards and a trip to the end zone as well.
With the offense clicking at this astounding rate, the Horned Frogs basically just have to keep up the sound play in the clutch. The team is converting a Big 12-best 55.8 percent of its third downs this season, with a solid 9-for-12 outing in the win over Iowa State.
We had to mention that statistic because the team’s defense has its tendencies of imploding. To be exact, TCU surrendered 45 or more points to middling Texas Tech and Kansas State in Weeks 4 and 6, respectively. The showdown on Saturday against WVU will arguably be the team’s biggest test this campaign, and will need to win convincingly in preparation for the late-season battles against the Big 12’s true powerhouse programs.
The Horned Frogs have won their last ten games played in Amon G. Carter Stadium, going 9-1 ATS in that span.
Writer’s Prediction
TCU spoils Howard’s homecoming in emphatic fashion, 44-20.
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