TCU @ SMU Preview: The Battle for the Iron Skillet

by Ben Findley on Sep 24, 2010 9:11 AM PDT in Mountain West Football

Amanda Green - SI Cheerleader of the week 12-24-09 (via MattyV53)

Next Game

TCU Horned Frogs
@ SMU Mustangs

Friday, Sep 24, 2010, 5:00 PM PDT
Gerald J. Ford Stadium

Six Mountain West games on the ESPN Family of Networks

posted by D-Sing 4 months ago

22 comments | 1 rec

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Tonight the TCU Horned Frogs head 40 miles east to Dallas for the annual "Battle for the Iron Skillet" against the SMU Mustangs. Tonight's game on ESPN will mark the 90th time the two teams have squared off on the gridirion with TCU leading the series 43-39-7. Judging by SMU predicting it's largest crowd ever it would seem that fans are trying to convince themselves that tonight is going to be just like 2005 when TCU, fresh off a big win over #7 OU in Norman, OK came into SMU's Ford Field the next week with their heads in the clouds and got handed their only loss of the season in a 21-10 clunker of a game. This year looks to be different as the Frogs are now used to the media's spotlight and this 2010 team is a focused group of veterans with 27 seniors on the roster.

While SMU is a "step above" Baylor in every facet of the game I just don't see them being able to hang around for long with the way that the Frogs are playing right now. On offense SMU the mobile QB Kyle Padron will be running the show but the 'Stangs aren't as one dimensional as you would think having discovered a power-back in Zach Line to complement the June Jones spread attack. The Frogs need to be careful as Line can be a killer on draws and screens. On defense SMU has a pretty impressive front 7 led by DE Taylor Thompson and LB Ja'Gared Davis that can give the TCU offensive line a challenge in spots, but I look for the Frogs to win the battle up front pretty handily.

Prediction: TCU 38 SMU 20

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Comments

Red-Out?

The Ponies are really hyping this game. They’re asking their fans to make the game a “Red-Out” by wearing red to the stadium. It’s their Super Bowl, Conference USA title be damned! I think there’s going to be considerably more purple in the stands tonight. And I’m going to do my part.

My guess? The Frogs cover the spread, say about 42-17.

Fear the Frog!

by SammyOBrien on Sep 24, 2010 2:29 PM PDT reply actions

I'd be willing to take that wager

No way is there more purple in the stands tonight.

by VA Libertarian on Sep 24, 2010 5:24 PM PDT up reply actions

You're Right

We only had a little over a quarter of the stadium in purple. It wasn’t as dominant as I had thought it might be. It turns out this week was Family Week at SMU, so they had extra help from moms and dads. But, even with that “extra help,” we made a pretty good showing.

As for my predicted score…we were a missed extra point from making 42 and covering the spread. The Ponies exposed a real weakness with the draw play. For about half a quarter before their last TD I thought I might have hit the score exactly.

Fear the Frog!

by SammyOBrien on Sep 25, 2010 8:54 AM PDT up reply actions