Saturday’s SELECTION
ARMY +19½ over TCU (PASS if line drops to +17)
The Horned Frogs of TCU leap into action on Saturday to take on the Army Black Knights. The Frogs are coming in off consecutive losses, including a heart-breaking 45-44 setback in double-overtime to South Florida last Saturday. Army was simply pounded last week at Connecticut, 40-3, in a game they certainly did not show up for. The Black Knights, who are 0-3 on the year, have now dropped 17 straight games, marking the longest current losing streak in the nation. New head coach Bobby Ross will have his troops ready to go for this one.
TCU is averaging a robust 43 ppg this season; however, their offense could be slowed as the injuries are piling up. Getting the starting nod under center this weekend will be Brandon Hassell, filling in for the injured Tye Gunn. Defensively, the Horned Frogs have been just awful this season allowing 40-plus points three times, including 45 last weekend to South Florida. Before running into TCU, the Bulls could not buy an offense, but came to life against a unit which is allowing 450 total ypg this year.
After scoring 21 points in each of their first two contests, the Black Knights came up with just a field goal in a 37-point setback to a very determined UConn team last weekend. Army has done a respectable job of rushing the ball this season behind Carlton Jones. They have been using a trio of QBs this season, including Matt Silva and Reggie Nevels. Army’s defense has not done much better than TCU’s, allowing 42 ppg.
TCU is clearly the better of the two teams in this matchup; however, we see good line value with the Knights. For the Frogs, QBs Hassell and Tye Gunn and leading receiver Reggie Harrell are among the many TCU players limited or sidelined by injuries. We also expect to see Army gives its best effort to date. After seeing some signs of progress in the first two games of the season coach Ross saw his team take a huge step back last Saturday with the 40-3 loss at Connecticut. He let his team know how disappointed he was in their effort, and the players have responded. They are catching the Horned Frogs reeling with injuries off their 2 losses, and we note that TCU is 0-8 ATS as a favorite of 10+ points vs. opponents off back-to-back losses. With a bye coming op next, the Frogs mission here is simply to survive and get healthy during the break, so while we expect them to get the SU win here, Army should hang around long enough to cover this large number.