Mack Brown said, "it's good we have an extra week off because the team definitely enjoyed the win over Oklahoma past the 48 hour rule." Which is to be expected as the red river rivalry is the biggest rivalry game in college football. TCU unfortunately had to play Oklahoma State last week. The Cowboys were also on an extra week of prep and were just fresher off a bye week in the win over TCU. TCU will have their hands full yet again with a Texas team that's gaining confidence and have their eyes on a Big 12 title which they are certainly in the mix for.
TCU gets Casey Pachall back after he broke his arm to start the season, but it's unknown how much he'll play but even if he does I don't see him being effective. This is the worst offense that Texas has faced all year as TCU is ranked 110th in total yards, they have a zero dimensional offense averaging less than 4 yards per carry, with a 112 QB rating, 29% third down conversions and 56% TD % in the red zone. Texas' defense has struggled at times, but they have definitely righted the ship. They have a ton of talent and with an extra week to prepare against an offense going nowhere, I believe they should dominate.
Offensively TCU has been great, but have shown some weaknesses in pass defense deep. Texas will throw some deep passes to loosen up TCU a bit here and Texas is far more capable of running the ball with the deepest stable of running backs in the country. TCU faced two teams that could run and did so against them. Oklahoma and LSU and Texas ranks in between the two in yards per carry. Texas also has revenge on their minds after losing 20-13 on Thanksgiving last year and would love to get the win to move to 4-0 in the Big 12. Power and toughness is what Texas defense struggles against and that's not TCU which relies on defense and forcing turnovers to win games. Texas is +6 in turnover margin and McCoy is taking care of the ball as Texas has just 7 turnovers on the year.
There is all kinds of value here on Colorado returning home in PAC 12 play still searching for their first competitive game in PAC 12 play never mind win. They have played arguably the three best teams in the PAC 12 in Oregon, Arizona State and Oregon State. Arizona comes into this game flying high after their win over Utah at home, but that was to be expected as Utah was on a hang over after upsetting Stanford. Utah still gave Arizona a run for their money.
Colorado is not as bad as they've shown they have some talented offensive players a deep group of running backs and an elite receiver in Paul Richardson that will be enough to push Arizona in this game. Colorado's defense has been decent at times holding opponents to 34% on third down and 60% on red zone TD's. Arizona is allowing 83% of possessions in the red zone to turn into TD's so Colorado should be able to score points here as Arizona is 0-2 on the road in the Pac 12 allowing 30+ in both games including 38 to a very bad USC offense.
Arizona has benefited from an easy schedule and while this game is still easy you bet Colorado circled this game with an FCS match up last week they were preparing for this game and should be more fresh than Arizona. Colorado can win this game and have a chance at going bowling so I expect them to be all in. Arizona is not as good offensively as they were a year ago. They are far too one dimensional even if Ka'Deem Carey is a top tier running back Colorado has not been that bad vs. the run allowing 4.14 ypc. They allowed 5.63 to Oregon and 4.76 to Arizona State who both have a passing threat while Arizona does not. BJ Denker is only completing 55% of his passes for 6 yards per attempt. Arizona was actually lucky in their last game that Tyler Wilson got hurt early and threw two picks early that changed the game completely otherwise they probably would have lost.
