Getty Images
Climbing the ranking better than anyone in the nation, seemingly, the TCU Horned Frogs came from off the radar to a top-10 team in just a few short weeks. The Horned Frogs have played just three ranked opponents this year, going 2-1 against them.
Having already played three teams in the top 10 this season, the West Virginia Mountaineers are feeling well prepared for yet another matchup with a top-10 opponent. West Virginia is just 1-2 against those foes this season with a recent one coming at home against Baylor.
If you’re looking for one of the best comeback players in the nation, look no further than TCU’s Trevone Boykin. The junior quarterback lost his starting job last season to a once-suspended Casey Pachall who has since graduated. Boykin leads the sixth-best passing offense in the nation with 2,306 yards, 21 touchdowns and three interceptions while rushing for 374 yards and three scores. Boykin has to be considered a serious Heisman candidate at this point in the year. Josh Doctson has been Boykin’s favorite target, grabbing 35 passes for 573 yards and seven touchdowns. Kolby Listenbee has added 494 yards and three touchdowns while Deante’ Gray has 431 yards and six touchdowns of his own. Running back B.J. Catalon is the only rusher ahead of Boykin, rushing for 388 yards and eight touchdowns and Aaron Green is third with 315 rushing yards and three scores.
West Virginia is led by one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the nation as well as Clint Trickett has flown under the radar to lead the ninth-best passing offense in the nation. Trickett has completed 68 percent of his passes for 2,763 yards and 17 touchdowns with just five interceptions. The veteran quarterback’s favorite target has easily been Kevin White — one of the best wide outs in the entire nation this year. White leads all receivers with 72 catches for 1,047 yards and eight touchdowns while the next closest receiver behind him, Mario Alford, has 45 catches for 600 yards and six touchdowns. Those two are clearly benefiting from the stellar play of their quarterback this year. Rushel Shell leads the run game with 503 yards and a team-high six rushing touchdowns while Wendell Smallwood has 476 yards and a score of his own.
Defensively, the Mountaineers rank near the middle of the nation in total yards allowed per game, 60th, as well as points allowed per game, 55th. The Horned Frogs haven’t been much better, however. Sure, they rank a solid 29th in scoring defense, but they also rank just 53rd in total defense, giving up 371.9 yards per game. Milan Puskar Stadium will be rocking as another upset bid will be possible for the Mountaineers at home.
The Horned Frogs will travel to West Virginia to take on the Mountaineers at 3:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, Nov. 1. The game will be broadcasted on ABC and ESPN 2.
PREDICTION: TCU 30, West Virginia 35
Want to see the Horned Frogs take on the Mountaineers in week 10? Check out ScoreBig for tickets.
Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at [email protected].
