TCU, Utah have traveled similar paths this season

Something's got to give Thursday night in Fort Worth.

Two teams traveling on almost identical paths so far this season will go at it when Utah and TCU meet at Amon G. Carter Stadium at 6 p.m. (MDT).

The similarities between the two teams are remarkable.

The Horned Frogs and Utes were both picked to be top contenders in the Mountain West Conference this year with TCU being picked by most preseason polls for first in the league, with Utah picked for second or third.

However seven games into the season, both teams are experiencing what can be called disappointing seasons on the whole.

Both teams are 4-3 overall, each with a win over a Pac-10 school.

Both are 1-2 in the MWC with upset losses to Air Force.

Both teams have suffered key injuries before and during the season.

Both teams still have slim hopes to get a piece of the MWC title.

Both teams have hopes of going to a bowl game, with Thursday's winner getting the inside track.

"The similarities are there, but there are probably different reasons why we both started slow," said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. When asked why TCU hasn't played up to its potential, Whittingham replied, "You'd probably have to ask coach (Gary) Patterson that."

The Utes' problems early this season have centered around injuries to four key starters out with season-ending injuries (offensive tackle Jason Boone, running back Matt Asiata, receiver Brent Casteel and linebacker Kyle Brady) and others such as starting quarterback Brian Johnson missing more than one game with injuries.

Injuries have been a negative factor for TCU, although not quite on the same scale as Utah.

Last year when they went 11-2, the Horned Frogs had so few injuries that the team trainers never had to run on the field to treat a player until the bowl game.

This year, it's been a different story.

Preseason all-America defensive end Tommy Blake has missed four of seven games for undisclosed medical reasons, including the past three games. He may or may not play this week against Utah.

Wade Sisk, who started all 13 games last year at tackle, went out with a knee injury in preseason, while Heath Raetz, an offensive lineman who would have challenged for a starting job, also has been lost for the year.