Keep it up, Dick. You're my favorite writer ever!!!

I'll admit, I'm a Ute fan who is pulling for the cougars this weekend. But you factor in how bad they've looked lately, how good TCU is at home, and how bad BYU is on the road...I just don't feel it. I hope I'm wrong. Would make the Nov. 22 game that much more interesting if we're both undefeated. Good luck! I get the feelin you'll need it (maybe another questionable call to pull this one out???) TCU over BYU 21-17

I think 17 points for the Cougars is too few. I think if BYU can pass with accuracy (which Hall can do) the score will be higher.
Utah should also blow out CSU. and NM should be able to run all over SDSU.

Here is to big games!!!!!!!!! Go Cougars!!!!!!!!

My prediction is Colorado State will have a breakout game and Brian Johnson will finally run out of last minute miracles pulled from his gluteous maximus. CSU over Utah 35-2.

Just kidding. The Utes won't have a problem this week. BYU though, better be clicking on all cylinders. No chance to win if they have a "USU 4th quarter" meltdown.

Here's hope for the undefeated Nov 22nd showdown staying alive.

The turnover margin is usually a huge factor in most football games??? Good Comintary

I think if our defense holds them under 20 points, our offense will pick up the other end. I'm looking for some big defensive plays to get the emotion going for BYU on both sides of the ball.

BYU 34 - 17

BYU will not win this game on the foot of its FG kicker, they win it with TDs, and it won't be that close. And BYU has not played bad the last two games, nor at USU. BYU dominated in all games, and the scores were closer than the actual game was.

BYU has played some mobile QBs now, and they know better how to defense it. BYU's run defense is very stout, TCU will not win this game on the ground, nor will BYU, so it comes down to the passing game, and BYU wins this one hands down.

Psssst... Dick. I have a secret to tell you. I'm not sure where you got the 31-14 score of the Okla -TCU game, but the score was actually 35-10. Shhh. don't tell anyone.

Tonight we'll see why BYU is ranked in the top 10. They will be well prepared and earn it.
BYU 34 - TCU 17

TCU hasn't been challenged this year by a great offense. At least when they were they dropped the ball and lost big.

BYU wins becasue TCU isn't defending Stephen Austin U.

Wow this is a tough game. A top ten undefeated TCU team that has beaten a string of ranked teams...what, TCU isn't ranked? What, they haven't beaten anyone near the top 25? Wait, then why is there all of this fear of TCU? I've been working at the nuclear plant for a while and Bart has hit me on the head one too many times, so maybe that is why I don't get all of the fear of TCU. Help me understand!

Dick gives the following stats, shown below in lowercase. BYU's stats which he did not give follow in all caps.
1. "Behind Bradford, the next highest-ranked FBC quarterback to face TCU is No. 43 CSU quarterback Billy Farris (132.96)
BEHIND THE DIV II-A N.I. QB THE HIGHEST QB TO FACE BYU IS #82 UTAH STATE DIONDRE BOREL (112.68)
2. "The average seasonal pass efficiency rating of QBs who've faced the Frogs this season is 124.85, and that includes Bradford's whopping 201.23" Dick adds "Not Good"
AVERAGE FOR BYU OPPONENTS IS 105.5 INCLUDING N.I. 152.91. W/O N.I. THE AVERAGE DROPS TO A DISMAL 97.6 "UM, REALLY REALLY NOT GOOD"
3. "Those five teams that have lost to the Frogs have a combined win-loss record of 12-20. So, how much has this TCU defense been challenged?"
ADD OKLAHOMA TO TCU'S RECORD AND IT BECOMES 17-21. BYU OPPONENTS RECORD IS WORSE AT 12-25 AND THAT INCLUDEs N.I. TAKE AWAY N.I. AND IT GETS PATHETIC, 8-23.

COMPARE THESE STATS WITH OR WITHOUT NORTHERN IOWA AND YOU WILL SEE THAT BYU LAGS FAR BEHIND TCU IN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.

TCU does not have a great offense. They run a lot and can't throw. BYU will come out firing with a lot of looks. With the emergence of George last week and a healthier Reed, TCU's secondary will have their hands full.
BYU 35
TCU 10

One other thing not brought up in the article is that there are MANY, MANY BYU alums here in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. This will almost be a home game as the BYU crowd will probably be large and very noisy. 2 years ago BYU fans filled about 1/3 of the stadium and was a big factor in the game. It felt like a home game. Rise and shout never was louder in Texas! the TCU fans were stunned at the number of BYU fans there. Actually, it was the same when the BYU Basketball team visited Ft. Worth too.

And your point is?

Your whole story is meaningless, clueless!

The fact is stats from previous opponents are irrelevant.

The only relevant comparison is how the teams match up against each other, player for player.

Can BYU's O-line protect Hall from TCU's pass rushers? Can they open holes for Unga and Fui? Can TCU's DB's cover Pitta and Collie? Can TCU's offense control the ball to keep BYU's offense off the field? Which team will be better at protecting the ball? (both are in the top 10 in turnover margin)

BYU has a great offense. TCU has a great defense.

BYU 31
TCU 17

Since when does TCU have a quarterback that's any good?

BYU will be facing another average, at best, quarterback.

The pressure is on TCU's defense because their defense is the most likely way for them to win.

Will BYU beat them over the top like Oklahoma did?

All things being equal, turnovers are the key, BYU wins by 7 -14 points.

All the pressure is in TCU. They had one lucky season their first year in the league. But this conference is led by BYU and Utah.

Nuff said.

Dick, you are making things a little complicated here. What's truly critical for BYU is a WIN. Nothing else, just a WIN. Anything less and it's bye, bye to the BCS!!!

I am very anxious to see if the USU and NM games were the result of a very good BYU team just turning it on and off throughout the game or a team that has some fatal flaws that will be exposed against teams like TCU and Utah. I think this game will come down to BYU's offensive line. If the line can get a decent run game going to loosen up the secondary and give Hall time the Cougs win this. But if TCU get's into the backfield with constant pressure against Hall we will have another 4/12 type 3rd down percentage which will not cut it against TCU. TCU will be NM on steroids so BYU better step its game up big time. I'm the most worried about TCU's time of possession and too many 3 and outs by the Cougs. The Cougar's stellar 3rd down conversion rate has taken a nose dive against USU and NM and TCU will make us pay for that. BYU needs to step off that bus on fire in all three phases for all four quarters or it will be a long weekend for Cougar fans.

Two years ago, when the horned frogs winning streak came to an end (a la BYU), I thought they played lethargic. I don't think they took BYU seriously then. They won't make that mistake tonight. I'm expecting a close game. TCU's defense will be pumped up for this one. They looked vulnerable against Oklahoma (passing game), but BYU's receivers don't have the speed Oklahoma has at wide receiver. I hope some of you picking a one-sided win for the Cougs are right. I think it'll be close. Go Cougs!!

BYU bad on the road? Hmm, 2 road wins this year, undefeated (home and away) in conference two years running. Something (wins) tells me that BYU doesn't struggle on the road as much as you think.

To: The Whole Story:

You give a good comparison, but why do Ute fans spend so much time on the Deseret News reading BYU articles? Do this many BYU fans peruse the Utah articles on the Trib? Since I don't read, much less comment on, Utah articles I wouldn't know.

TO:the whole story

all those stats may be true but finish the story. average margin of victory is TCU 19.4 and BYU 27.6.

BYU's offense against TCU deffence is going to be a dead lock. The win will come from BYU's deffence as they pick up a turn over in good field position. Thats my prediction.

Harmon wasn't saying that the Cougars had played better quarterbacks, he was saying that with the exception of Oklahoma, the horned frogs hadn't played a quarterback as efficient as Max Hall. Why would he add a bunch of irrevelevent statistics about the quarterbacks the BYU defense played against? That has nothing to dowith what the TCU defense would be facing...

But thanks for sharing your bitterness towards BYU.

I think that the big difference in this game is David Nixon. Look at the last two games Nixon had against TCU. 2006 He caused the fumble that changed the entire game in favor of BYU. Last year he had a big sack at the end of the game to end TCU's chances of coming back. He is a big factor that people are forgeting about.

Too true, too true. Nixon always has big games against TCU. He is not the only Texan who shines in the lone star state. Don't forget the huge game Michael Reed had in Ft. Worth last time. He always gets up for games where his family is going to be there watching. Look for him to convert big third downs and score some points.

Dick: Oklahoma beat TCU 35-10...you are referencing the TCU over Stanford score (31-14).

The Sooners led 28-3 at halftime after converting three turnovers. TCU played them straight up at 7-7 in the second half, and the only turnover they gave up to Oklahoma was with under a minute to go in the game.

TCU is ranked in the coaches poll...

Cougs better win, so we can burst their bubble in November!!!

Well I think BYU is in a world of hurt if they haven't listened to their coaches and gotten rid of the attitude! Defense does the job but the offense is in a fog! The chemistry is off, and they better get it together or they can kiss the BCS goodbye as well as a perfect season, it ain't going to happen the way the last two games have been played!

I have said it before amd I will say it again. The games are won on the line of scrimmage and we are clearly better on the offensive line. Will that transfer into points?? I think so. Take care of the ball and no problem BYU fans. Look for a similiar score like we had in 06. GO COUGARS!!

Thanks for clarifiying some misleading statistics.

The only problem I have with that is that most of those statistics have to do with pass defense. Defending against the pass is TCU's only chance to keep 40 points off the board. BYU isn't as worried about the pass. They should be more concerned about defending the run. I think that's why TCU's pass defense was discussed, but not BYU's.

I know BYU will win tonight because they love a national televised game, like the UCLA game, and look what they did to UCLA, they smoked them.

BYU loves the national spotlight, look at the UCLA game, it was national and Look what they did to the Bruins, they smoked them! I got that feeling that BYU will win big!!

You just got smoked on national TV by TCU. I guess you're just not that good, oh well life will go on with maybe a bit less BYU attitude. Go Utes

Well, the game's over and BYU was destroyed by TCU. TCU is a very good football team. The MWC is strong and ANYONE can beat ANYONE on a given night. Utah needs to pick it up against CSU and New Mexico and then be ready for a tough game 3 weeks from tonight. While I can feel a little sad for the BYU players, I can't say the same for their most obnoxious fans. See today's posts for proof of their arrogance or ignorance or both. Their fans are the most obnoxious of anywhere I've lived recently, included Pac 10 country [Los Angeles and Phoenix], Big 12 country [Missouri] and Big Ten country [Minnesota]. I think a little humility is a good thing...