HOP IN THEIR STEP
FROGS HAVE GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO JUMP INTO CFP CONVERSATION WITH UPSET OF OSU
KEYS FOR TCU
Start fast: The Horned Frogs labored to halftime against SMU. TCU was too talented to fall to its private-school rival, but that won’t be true this week against Ohio State. Garry Patterson’s team must start strong and at least stay in the game through the first half to stand a chance, even at home. Freshman quarterback Shawn Robinson won’t be asked to win the game in the first half.
Stop the run: The Ohio State offense is always vaunted no matter who plays quarterback. That’s because the Buckeyes run the football. The duo of Mike Weber and Texas native JK Dobbins is as lethal as any backfield in the country. TCU stands no chance on Saturday unless the defense can force Ohio State into third-and-long situations.
KEYS FOR OHIO STATE
Handle the emotion: TCU will be hyped for this football game and its up to Ohio State to play mature, experienced football without its head coach on the sideline. Ohio State is breaking in a first-year starter at quarterback and the Horned Frogs defense is known to present extra challenges with exotic alignments and blitzes. Turnovers and special teams: TCU didn’t build a small dynasty in Fort Worth because of sheer talent. The Horned Frogs are rarely as talented or deep as its big game opponents. That hasn’t stopped Patterson and his program from winning its share of big games, including the occasional upset.
PREDICTION
Ohio State 38, TCU 28: This is a game TCU can win. It’s not a game the Horned Frogs should win, however, as Ohio State hasn’t missed a beat in its first two games without Urban Meyer patrolling the sideline with more attention to detail than he does patrolling his assistant coach’s off-field transgressions. The running game of Ohio State, and the sheer depth on the two-deep, will overcome the raw emotion and game plan by the TCU defense.