The No. 15 TCU Horned Frogs host the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, September 10th in a SEC vs. Big 12 matchup. This will be the first meeting between these teams since the SWC days, where they played every year from 1930 to 1991. The Razorbacks are 30-3 all-time in the series, including a 22-21 win in their last trip to Fort Worth in 1991.
TCU is coming off a high-scoring affair in a 59-41 victory over South Dakota State in its opener last week. This game was close throughout, and the Horned Frogs needed a 14-3 fourth quarter to put away the Jack Rabbits.
Arkansas also had to sweat out a 21-20 home victory over Louisiana Tech in its opener last week. The Razorbacks actually trailed in the fourth quarter before Austin Allen hit Jeremy Sprinkle with a 4-yard touchdown pass with 6:37 to play, which proved to be the game-winner.
Kickoff inside Amon G. Carter Stadium is scheduled for 7:00 EST Saturday night with ESPN providing the television coverage. Taking a look at the lines in Las Vegas, I find TCU as a 7.5-point favorite over Arkansas with a total set of 58.5 points.
While it was concerning to see TCU give up 41 points to South Dakota State, I still believe this is one of the most talented defenses that Gary Patterson has had at TCU. He has eight starters back on D, and I look for a bounce-back effort from the Frogs on this side of the ball this week.
The bigger concern coming into the season was how the Frogs would replace so much talent on offense. Well, that’s clearly not a problem now after they put up 59 points and 662 total yards on SDSU. Texas A&M transfer Kenny Hill picked up right where Trevone Boykin left off. He threwe for 439 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 45 yards and another three scores in the win.
Arkansas clearly has issues offensively after losing QB Brandon Allen, who threw for 3,440 yards with 30 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Brother Austin Allen is a big downgrade. The Razorbacks managed just 297 total yards in their 21-20 home win over Louisiana Tech last week, needing a late touchdown in the fourth quarter to escape with victory. Allen threw for only 191 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in the loss.
This TCU defense will make life very difficult for Allen and company once again. And I look for Hill to continue his hot start as he’s still one of the most talented quarterbacks in the country.
I really like the home-field advantage for TCU, too. It is 13-0 at home over the past two seasons, and it has gone 6-0 at home or better in five of the past eight years. This is one of the toughest places to play in the country. The Horned Frogs are 14-3 ATS in their last 17 home games.
TCU is 9-0 in its last nine non-conference home games vs. Power 5 teams with its last loss coming in 1999. Arkansas is 2-10 in road openers since 2004 while dropping five straight by an average of 21 points per game.
TCU is 9-0 in its last nine non-conference home games vs. Power 5 teams with its last loss coming in 1999. Arkansas is 2-10 in road openers since 2004 while dropping five straight by an average of 21 points per game.