Dawg Preview: BYU Vs. TCU Preview

'BYU vs TCU 06' Photo Credit: geebeeyou12 via Flickr

Game Info:

Date: Saturday, October 14th; 3:30 PM EST.

Place: Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas.

TV: ESPN

Radio: KTCU Radio Network (Brian Estridge); BYU Radio (Greg Wrubell, Hans Olsen, Mitchell Juergens)

Series Info:

Records: BYU (4-1); TCU (3-3)

Rankings: BYU Receiving Votes (AP)

Series History; TCU leads, 6-5-0

Last Meeting: October 28, 2011; TCU 38, BYU 28

Line: TCU (-6.0)

A rivalry Renewed

This will be only the 12th time these two teams have faced each other, but there is a lot of history between these two in those 11 short meetings. TCU and BYU seem destined to be in the same conference with each other in one way or another. BYU vs TCU first met in a non-conference home and home series in 1987 and 1988 splitting those games. TCU then joined the WAC with BYU in 1996. They played each other in '96 and '97, and BYU won both matchups. BYU left the WAC to join the MWC in 1999. TCU left the WAC shortly after in 2001 to join CUSA. After only being with CUSA for 4 years, TCU joined BYU once again in the MWC in 2005.

BYU and TCU enjoyed six short seasons together as conference foes in the MWC. TCU won four of the six meetings in conference play plus one more in BYU's first year as independent in 2011. BYU has now joined TCU in the BIG12 to reignite this rivalry of sorts as conference foes once again.

I loved the BYU vs.TCU game growing up as a BYU fan. I always knew TCU had a good team and it would be a good game. BYU, TCU, and Utah were always the top 3 teams in the MWC it seemed, and they were always the ones in the fight at the end of the season for a chance to win the conference title. It was usually a ranked match-up back then and nationally televised. A lot has changed since then but yet, but a lot is still the same.

Preview: BYU vs TCU

TCU seems very beatable after their last two conference games. Both losses, one to WVU and the other to Iowa State, and now with starting QB, Chandler Morris, out for multiple games, it surprises me that the ESPN matchup predictor still gives TCU a 72.4% chance of winning. By no means do I think it'll be a cakewalk for BYU but I do think it is a lot closer than 72.4%. BYU coming off their bye week will be well rested, hopefully getting a couple of starters back from injury, you can bet they are coming in ready to play.

BYU still feels like they are a bit underrated, with only being a one-loss team whose loss was a close one against Kansas (who has only lost to Texas). I don't think BYU fans are looking at this as they are the underdogs. If BYU loses I think it will be a disappointing loss for them. Most BYU fans are expecting a win this week in Fort Worth.

Earlier this year TCU announced that tickets to the BYU game and the Texas game would only be available through their "Keep it Purple Plan." This means you can only purchase tickets to those games by including other game tickets in a "mini-plan" style. Those other game tickets also, cannot be resold. This obviously gives TCU fans the upper hand in buying tickets to these two games because BYU fans won't be buying tickets to other TCU games they aren't going to and also cannot resell those tickets. This plan however does not stop season ticket holders from selling their tickets to the game. TCU fans have seemed to give up on the season already and are dumping their season tickets for this game to BYU fans. I expect to see a massive turn-out and a lot of blue in AGC this weekend which I think only helps BYU win this game.

Prediction

With a big turnout of BYU fans, TCU's Morris out, BYU having a chip on their shoulder, and BYU having Kody Epps and Parker Kingston back, I think BYU will come out of AGC with a win this weekend. It'll be close of course, but BYU takes it 33-28.

Go Cougs!