Time to break down the advantages and disadvantages for each school prior to this big matchup Saturday, which for those who do not know is on CBS College Sports and in HD (something The Mtn. is FINALLY doing).
There is no better way then to do a fancy chart comparing the two schools and their coaches. These are all per game stats.
Record |
8-1 | 9-0 |
Scoring Offense |
29.1 | 37.4 |
Rushing Offense | 186.89 | 242.11 |
Passing Offense | 224.4 | 216.4 |
Scoring Defense |
16.4 | 11.2 |
Rushing Defense | 129.78 | 89.67 |
Passing Defense | 169.6 | 150.9 |
Head to Head | 5-1 | 1-5 |
Turnover Margin | +.22 | +.33 |
Big Game Coaching* | 14-7 | 16-7 |
The teams are pretty balanced with the big difference being TCU's rushing offense is over 60 yards better from Utah, and then the TCU rush defense is near tops in the nation at 89 per game. Something will have to give in the rushing game for both teams. Which still makes me wonder why the point spread is so large and currently at 20 points. This game should be
*Big game coaching refers to won-loss record against team from BCS leagues, bowl games, and conference rivals which include Utah, TCU, and BYU, starting from 2005.