The Horned Frogs from last year went an excellent record of 11-2 and the only two loses came to BYU and Utah last year. This year Gary Patterson has the Horned Frogs primed for a BCS run. They are ranked 22 in the preseason polls and they get the chance to play Texas this year on September 8th. A few problems with TCU is that coach Patterson is going with redshirt freshman Andy Dalton instead of Marcus Jackson who actually started a few games last year. The main keys for TCU to do well all depends on their quarterback play because of the inexperience there, Aaron Brown needs to step it up in the running game, and the nationally ranked defense needs to prove it can play that way again. The only weaknesses I see on this team is their secondary where they are replacing two new defensive backs and also the need of a go to wideout for the Horned Frogs.
Here is their schedule
September 1 Baylor 5:00 PM CT TV: CSTV
September 8 at Texas 6:00 PM CT TV: Fox Sports NET
September 13 at Air Force 6:00 PM MT TV: CSTV
September 22 SMU 7:30 PM MT TV: CSTV
September 29 Colorado State 6:00 PM CT TV: The Mtn.
October 6 at Wyoming 12:00 PM MT TV: The Mtn.
October 13 at Stanford 2:00 PM PT TV: NONE
October 18 Utah 7:00 PM CT TV: Versus
November 3 New Mexico 4:30 PM MT TV: The Mtn.
November 8 at BYU 7:00 PM MT TV: Versus
November 17 UNLV 6:30 PM CT TV: TBA(The Mtn. or CSTV)
November 24 at San Diego State TBA TV: TBA (CSTV or The Mtn)
Lock it up... Baylor, @ Air Force, SMU, Colorado State, @ Stanford, New Mexico, UNLV, @ San Diego State
Maybe... @ Wyoming, Utah, @ BYU
No Way... @ Texas
This TCU team is primed for a BCS bowl game even if they lose at Texas in week 2. Overall I see the TCU Horned Frogs winning the Mountain West and finishing with an overall record of 10-2 and perhaps 11-1 they would lose to Texas and then possibly to either BYU or Utah. The reason for their lose to those two teams is because they throw the ball a lot, and TCU's secondary is the weakest part of their defense.
Best case scenario... Would be for TCU to finish 11-1 and has an outside shot of a BCS bowl game, by losing early that would give TCU time to move back up into the polls. The only way TCU could beat Texas is if they can develop a great passing game just after week one with a new QB, and their defense that is so great must hold Texas to under 21 points to have a chance at that game. They should at worst go to the Las Vegas bowl for winning the conference this year.
Worst case scenario... Would have TCU getting crushed by Texas and then also losing again to Utah, BYU, and having a tough time against Wyoming on the road. TCU would still go to a bowl game but would have an overall record of 9-3 and maybe 8-4 if Wyoming can upset the Horned Frogs.