Week 4 of the college football season is here. TCU plays SMU, and Heartland College Sports has your game prediction, preview, and betting odds ahead of the matchup.
GAME INFO
Saturday, Sept. 21; 4:00 p.m. (CT); Gerald J. Ford Stadium; Dallas, TX
TV: The CW Network
Records: TCU (2-1); SMU (2-1)
Last Week: UCF 35, TCU 34; SMU on BYE
Series History: TCU leads 53-42-7
Last Meeting: TCU 34, SMU 17
Fun Fact: In a rivalry that has been competitive throughout its history, TCU has gained the upper hand over the Mustangs in recent years. The Horned Frogs have won nine of the last 11 meetings and 18 of their 22 meetings dating back to 2000.
Team A vs. Team B Betting Lines and Odds
Opening Line: TCU (-3)
Over/Under: 58.5
Key Players
TCU Horned Frogs
QB Josh Hoover
One of the most prolific passers in the country through the first three games, TCU quarterback Josh Hoover has picked up right where he left off at the end of last season — red hot. Thus far, Hoover has completed 69.7% of his attempts for 1,022 yards and eight touchdowns with no interceptions. IF TCU is going to bounce back from a tough loss to UCF last week, it’ll likely come by way of a big game from Hoover.
CB LaMareon James
A transfer from Old Dominion, TCU cornerback LaMareon James has been pivotal to TCU’s success through the first three games of the season. He’s allowed just 11 passing yards all season and has been targeted just five times with two pass breakups to show for it. Listed at 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, James will be a big player in this game as SMU attempts to air it out.
SMU Mustangs
QB Kevin Jennings
One of the reasons SMU was a popular pick to challenge in the ACC this season was the return of incumbent starting quarterback Preston Stone. However, the Mustangs offense has struggled with consistency to this point in the year, and inserting Kevin Jennings into the lineup against BYU seemed to be the shot in the arm that they needed to get going at times. Coming out of that game, there’s a controversy in the SMU backfield, but Jennings is the more dynamic athlete and the player to watch here.
DE Isaiah Smith
Disrupting TCU’s passing offense will be a priority for SMU in this game, and that means Isaiah Smith needs to be involved. Through the first three games of the season, Smith has 10 tackles (7th on team) and leads the Mustangs with two sacks. He’ll need to add to that sack total and be in Hoover’s ear throughout the game.
KEY STORYLINES
TCU Horned Frogs
Can the Horned Frogs rebound from a disappointing loss? TCU had UCF down 28-7 in the third quarter of last week’s Big 12 opener and lost the game, 35-34. It’s tough to bounce back from losses like that, but a rivalry game against SMU should be just the trick to help Sonny Dykes’ squad put that one behind them. However, going out and doing that will much more of a challenge than just saying it’s going to happen.
SMU Mustangs
Does quarterback controversy cost SMU another game? Against BYU a couple of weeks ago, the Mustangs were back-and-forth on their quarterback situation until it was clear that Kevin Jennings gave them a better chance to win. However, BYU’s defense found a way to hold SMU to just 15 points and escaped with a win. Now, with crosstown rival TCU in town, Rhett Lashlee and company can’t afford to have questions at the quarterback position.
PREDICTION: TCU 33, SMU 27
This game feels like the classic situation of whoever has the ball last will win the game. Both teams desperately need a win here, and with the Iron Skillet on the line, it feels like all the stops will be pulled out in Dallas. In a contest where both defenses are playing catchup pretty much all day long, I like the stability of Josh Hoover and the TCU offense better than that of the Mustangs. Give me TCU to win in a one-score battle to the finish.
