TCU Horned Frogs 2010 Football Preview, Futures Odds and Betting Picks

The 2009 TCU Horned Frogs had a perfect regular season before losing by a touchdown to Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl

. Gary Patterson has built up quite a football team that can clearly compete with anyone in the country at this point. Patterson has this team believing it can do anything, and they are a very dangerous bunch right now.

TCU definitely lost some high-end talent on the defensive side as both Jerry Hughes and Daryl Washington will be playing in the NFL, but they have a plethora of high quality players returning in 2010. The offense returns nine starters, and the defense returns seven starters. This team clearly has the goal of winning every single game they play in 2010, and while that is an extremely tough task, they do have a chance to complete it. We'll see if those who make the college football picks agree.

College Football Predictions: TCU Offensive Preview

In 2009, the TCU offense broke out and was one of the best in the nation. This year's squad will have virtually all of their major contributors back for another year. Andy Dalton is the senior quarterback who serves as a terrific leader for this unit. Dalton is an accurate passer, an agile runner, and a fierce competitor. The biggest strength of this offensive unit is its amazing balance. The Horned Frogs have a great playmaker on the outside in Jeremy Kerley. TCU also has two solid running backs in Ed Wesley and Matthew Tucker. The offensive line returns four of five starters, but the right tackle spot could be up in the air going into the season. This offense has the capability to be even better than the 2009 offense, which averaged 38 points per game.

TCU Defensive Preview

The Horned Frogs are deep defensively, so the loss of players like Hughes and Washington won't hurt as much as some might think. The 4-2-5 defense TCU plays seems to fit into their strength as a team, which is on the defensive line. Kelly Griffin and Cory Grant are as good of a pair of defensive tackles as you will find in the country, which means running against this team should be extremely difficult again in 2010. Tank Carder is a linebacker who has shown the ability to roam the field and disrupt everything the opponent tries to do. The team's cornerbacks will be a little inexperienced, but the defense TCU plays allows for three safeties. The three safeties should all be solid players, which will likely help out any potential problems at the corner position. Expect TCU to have a defense that flies around the field and ranks highly in the nation again in 2010.

TCU Football Question Marks

The offensive line should be very good as a whole, but TCU needs to get the right tackle spot figured out. If this position is a problem, Dalton won't have the time needed to survey the field and utilize his weapons on the outside.

The cornerback position is the biggest question mark for the Horned Frogs in 2010. The safeties will be able to cover up that problem against most of their opponents, but when they play against the best in the nation, these corners will be tested often.

TCU Football Odds

The oddsmakers clearly understand that TCU is a force to be reckoned with in 2010. 5dimes currently lists TCU as the eighth favorite to win the BCS Championship at +2,100. The Horned Frogs are huge favorites in the Mountain West, as shown by the - 270 listing 5dimes has posted for them to win the conference. What about TCU's final ranking? 5dimes has listed TCU at +300 to finish in the Top 5 in the final USA Today poll, and -135 to finish in the Top 10. Sportsbook.com has set the team total for wins at 11. Currently, over' 11 wins is at even money and under' 11 wins is at - 120.

TCU Football Schedule - Key Games

The 2010 TCU football schedule includes a test right off the bat against Oregon State in Arlington. The game at SMU on Sept. 24 could be interesting as June Jones has that team playing extremely well. Inside the Mountain West Conference, TCU will get both BYU and Air Force at home this year. The single game that should be circled on this schedule though is the Nov. 6 game at Utah. Utah is leaving the conference after this year, and they will likely be TCU's toughest in-conference opponent in 2010. The 2010 football schedule for TCU isn't easy, but it certainly isn't one of the most difficult schedules in the country.

2010 TCU Football Predictions

As a college football handicapper, I really think TCU has a solid chance of winning every single game on their regular season schedule. Will that be enough to put them into the BCS Championship Game? My guess would be no, since many other schools will have much tougher schedules. However, stranger things have happened. In the end, I would expect the Horned Frogs to dominate their conference once again, and play in a high-profile BCS game in January.

TCU Horned Frogs 2010 Football Preview, Futures Odds and Betting Picks

By: Doc Moseman

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