The Longhorns look to keep the momentum going as Gary Patterson and TCU come to town. Can Tom Herman break the curse and get a win against Patterson? Our staff weighs in.
Daniel Seahorn (1-2)
This team proved me wrong last week by picking up the win over USC, but this week’s game against TCU brings a much stiffer test. It’s no secret that Gary Patterson and the Horned Frogs have had Texas’ number for several years running and that alone makes it tough for me to pick Texas. I know I said it last week, but Texas will have to find a way to beat TCU this week before I can confidently pick them in this matchup going forward.
Prediction: TCU: 35, Texas 21
Jameson McCausland (2-1)
Until I see it actually happen, I can’t pick Texas to beat TCU. Gary Patterson has a strong dislike for Texas, and his players have physically whipped the Longhorns the past 4 years. The last time Texas scored more than 10 points against the Horned Frogs was in 2013 with Case McCoy at the helm.
Texas has made strides, but TCU’s offense is built to exploit some of the issues the Longhorns defense has shown early in the season. It’s hard to see the Texas offense being able to match TCU score-for-score.
Prediction: TCU 27, Texas 17
Aaron Carrara (2-1)
Texas showed out last week in their dismantling of USC, and all eyes are on the Longhorns this week in their matchup against TCU. TCU has an explosive offense, a nasty defense and team speed on both sides of the ball. The Longhorns have a quarterback that has shown improvement from game to game, a running back corps that is improving and a defense that held USC to -5 rushing yards last week.
The Texas defense must be able to contain TCU quarterback Shawn Robinson and his array of offensive weapons, because while Texas has the capacity to put up points, it can’t match TCU in scoring. TCU is 5-1 vs. Texas since joining the Big 12 and Gary Patterson will employ a barrage of blitzes in his 4-2-5 defense on Saturday night to try and notch Big 12 win #6 against the Longhorns. In the end I don’t think Texas can keep up with TCU and loses a close one to drop back to .500.
Prediction: TCU 42, Texas 38
Harrison Wier (1-2)
Texas’ win against USC was impressive last weekend, but I believe it spoke more about the Trojans than it did the Longhorns. The real test comes tomorrow at 3:30. Texas has the home field advantage with an anticipated crowd. TCU comes to town with a typically loaded Gary Patterson team.
Although Texas has improved, I don’t see them pulling this one out. TCU has a stellar defense that presents the ability to give Texas QB Sam Ehlinger fits. If Texas stands a chance, they’ll have to effectively run the ball — which I don’t see happening. Mix that in with Shawn Robinson’s ability to exploit the Texas defense and this game just seems too far out of reach. Texas is improving, but not enough to get over the hump that’s TCU.
Prediction: TCU 38, Texas 21
