With college football right around the corner, I wanted to start discussing some of my surprise teams for the upcoming season. With one of the best defenses in the country, the Horned Frogs are a legitimate National Title contender for the following reasons:
- TCU returns seven of eight defensive linemen this season, including Wayne Daniels (5.5 sacks) and Cory Grant (2.5 sacks). While the Horned Frogs lose Jerry Hughes, who had 11.5 sacks in 2009, this remains an extremely experienced defensive line that will have a lot of success in 2010. Indeed, TCU’s front seven have allowed 2.9 yards per rush play or less in ten of the last eleven years.
- As usual, TCU will once again field one of the best sets of linebackers in the nation. With five of six linbebackers returning, this is an extremely experienced group that will dominate the Mountain West Conference.
- Head coach Gary Patterson always places an emphasis on special teams, and this year’s unit could be the best in all of college football. With placekicker Ross Evans making 15 of 18 FG attempts last season, look for TCU’s special teams to cash a lot of tickets for sports investors in 2010.
- Quarterback Andy Dalton threw for a career high 2,756 yards last season, and he now enjoys one of the best receiving corps. in the nation. With an incredible 61.6% completion rate and 23-8 ratio in 2009, look for Dalton to have his best collegiate season yet in 2010. I should also note that Dalton is 29-7 as a starter and averages 4.4 yards per rush attempt.
- TCU returns sixteen starters from last year’s squad and outgained conference opponents by an amazing 261.9 yards per game.
There is no question that this year’s TCU squad is the best overall unit to take the field under head coach Gary Patterson. And, with one of the best defenses in the country, the Horned Frogs are a legitimate National Title Contender in 2010 so invest accordingly.