Erik Scheponik
Texas Bowl @Houston, TX
December 28, 2007, 8:00PM EST
TCU vs. Houston
This year? Texas Bowl is aptly named, and should
draw a nice little turnout with two solid instate
programs doing battle here. Houston HC Art Briles
will not coach the Cougars here, as he leaves for
Baylor. Briles turned the UH program around,
leading the team to 4 bowl games in his 5 years,
after they made only 2 in the previous 15 years. His
exciting offense did not skip a beat despite losing
Kevin Kolb to the Philadelphia Eagles after last
season. This year?s offense. Led by redshirt
freshman QB Case Keenum, was the best of Briles?
tenure here, scoring 36 points per game, and
ranking 4th in the nation at 513 yards per game. It
will be interesting to see how this team, and mainly
this high-powered offense responds, as they will be
coached by cornerback coach and recruiting
coordinator Chris Thurmond for the bowl game.
TCU had some injuries to key players early on both
sides of the ball early on and that contributed
greatly to an unimpressive 4-4 start. However, they
got somewhat healthy and finished strong, going 3-1
SU/ATS down the stretch, including a respectable
27-22 loss at BYU, and a 37-0 massacre of New
Mexico. The college football coaching carousel has
somehow avoided Gary Patterson again thus far,
and although it wouldn?t shock me if he was
snatched up late in the game, he is, for now, staying
put. Patterson?s program is built on defense, and
this year is no different, as TCU ranked 16th
nationally in total defense (320 ypg) and scoring
defense (19ppg). The Horned Frogs held the bowl
teams on their schedule to only 4.3 yards per play, a
number surpassed by only USC and Ohio St. By
comparison, UH allows 6.0 ypplay to the bowlers on
their schedule.
This would be an interesting chess match if Art
Briles were on the Houston sideline. However, he?s
not, and therefore I have to side with TCU. The UH
spread offense uses tons of misdirection and
specializes in mismatches and getting their
playmakers in space. The quarterback looks to the
sideline on most plays, and then makes the call. I
cannot fathom Keenum getting the same input from
the sideline now that not only Briles, but BOTH OF
HIS OFFENSIVE COORDINATORS are now at Baylor.
Patterson and his DC Dick Bumpus will have their
rugged defense prepared here, and despite their
talent, I?m not sure the Cougars offense will be able
to adjust with their current coaching situation.
TCU should improve to 4-2 SU, 4-1-1 ATS in bowls
under Patterson.
(TCU by 11)