TCU the favorite?

I will preface this by saying I have not seen TCU play this year, nor do I know much about them. I do however know quite a bit about the Badgers and have seen all but 1 or 2 of their games.

I am absolutely stunned that Bucky is an underdog. I am so stunned that I think I must be missing something. It seems so wrong to me that it scares me.

How does a team that beat the then #1 team in the country, and after the Iowa game, rolled over every other team on their schedule become an underdog to anyone? Especially given as you said that it will almost be like a home game for the Badgers..

This Wisconsin team is the most balanced offensively that I’ve seen in a long time. The only thing I can think of is that Vegas still thinks that all Wisconsin does is run the ball and that TCU can stop them..good luck with that.

It’s taking all the willpower I have to not bet a ton on Bucky..it seems like such a layup..and as I said, thats the only thing that scares me.

It’s a home game for the Badgers, the 4-2-5 thing—unless they change things all around—is going to be manhandled, and I look at the level of competition and us being underdogs just amazes me.

Vegas’ “opinion” is only reflected in the opening line. From there, the lines adjust based on betting action. That means the betting public loved TCU to cover the -1.5. Vegas wants to get equal action so they moved it to -3.

If I remember correctly, all their safeties are big and can play well against the run. It’s not like their playing three tiny CBs.

Firstly, as I noted, TCU hasn’t met a line like Wisconsin’s. Our boys punch everyone in the mouth, and hard. This is a point that can’t be overlooked. And I still maintain that TCU’s rush defense stats are inflated by virtue of always playing with a big lead- a point that was ignored.

So, yes, the 4-2-5 works- when you’re playing against teams with a spread, teams that need to pass, etc. Schematically, I like TCU’s defense against the pistol, I like it against a spread, I like it against anyone trying to play basketball on grass, as the extra defensive back allows you to push the play wide and pursue. Problem is, Wisconsin’s coming right at you. Tell me, who in the Mountain West can do that? This is far too important a point be dusted off by simply saying “they gang tackle well” or “their safeties are big.” Fine, gang tackling is nice; not to effective when bruising runners like Montee Ball or John Clay are are making first contact with a defender five yards upfield.

I also wouldn’t disregard the Iowa game out of hand, as Cincos does, or overplay the Michigan State game, as is implied. We more or less put Iowa into a tailspin. That same Iowa team whipped Michigan State and nearly held on against Ohio State. Moreover, against Michigan State we lost our two best defenders, were without our two best WRs and our reigning Big 10 Player of the Year went out with an injury. All that and we were only down three with about a minute left, and on the road no less.

Then, let’s say that TCU does manage to stymie Bucky’s run game. How are they going to contain the best tight end in college football- one whose quarterback just happened to win the Unitas award? Have they encountered any wideouts this year that will be playing in the NFL in a year or two? I don’t think so. TCU isn’t going to be showing Bucky anything new; UW will, however, be introducing the Horned Frogs to a smash mouth style heretofore foreign to them.

I see the came being somewhat close through the midway point of the third quarter, at which point Bucky strings back-to-back, clock-killing drives that put the game out of reach.

TCU runs a variety of formations including the spread and the pistol. A large portion of our base offense is run out of the spread and revolves around the read option. We have just as big of an O-line as wishky and also have our own trio of running backs that can match up with any in the country. TCU actually ranked higher in terms of rushing yards per game than wisky. Our qb is also a threat out of the backfield with over 400 yards rushing on the year. And like already mentioned, our o-line avg 6-4 319 with 4 of 5 being seniors. Stopping the TCU rush attack is key for wisconsin.

TCU’s pass attack is potent as well. I dont get the whole they dont have any atheltes that jump out at you. Try searching Jeremy Kerley on youtube, you might catch a couple SC top ten plays. TCU is deep at the reciever postition with , Kerely, Young, Boyce and Johnson. Watch out for TCU to run a lot of quick screen passes to take the 8th man out of the box (I imagine early on wisky will key in on the tcu run game to make Dalton beat them) early on.

I think the match up of the badgers offense vs our defense is going to be great to watch. TCU has been solid against the run all year, holding the nations third leading rushing team, air force, to its lowest output of the season. All this garbage about the 4-2-5 not being able to handle power run teams is garbage. Two of the three safties TCU employs are hybrid safety/linebacker types that are 210-215lbs. Despite the way the media (ESPN) wants to paint TCU as being small, if you do any research you will see that the frogs defense is the real deal.

In my opinion the game with be decided not by the wisconsin offense, but by how well their defense can rise to the occassion.

 This arguement can go both ways. You guys pilled up the rushing yards, which you have less of than us, against some pretty piss poor teams as well. Im not trying to say our schedule was better, but cmon Northwestern, Indiana, and Minnesota aren’t exactly a murders row like you make out the big ten to be. You guys gave up 21 points to UNLV the biggest bottom feeder of them all.

I think you are a little bit confused. San Diego State and San Jose State are different teams. TCU played San Diego State. UW played san jose state.