28, 2006
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BYU-TCU
The Dispatch
TCU adjusted quickly to the
Mountain West Conference in 2005, winning the league title in its first year as
a member. The 17th-ranked Horned Frogs would like to continue that
dominance and increase the nation’s longest active winning streak when they
host BYU on Thursday in the conference opener for
both teams. TCU (3-0), coming off a bye week, defeated then-No. 24
The Horned Frogs avenged a 70-35 defeat two years earlier to the Red Raiders.
The Horned Frogs are third in the nation in run defense, allowing only 37 yards
per game. TCU hasn’t allowed an opponent to rush for
more than 59 yards in the last six games, and Texas Tech had only 38 on the
ground. TCU was the first team since 2000 to hold the
Red Raiders without a touchdown. If the Horned Frogs win Thursday, they’ll
match the longest winning streak in school history, set from 1937-1938. The
1938 team finished 11-0 and won the national championship behind Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Davey
O’Brien. BYU
hopes to have starting quarterback John Beck healthy for Thursday’s game, but
if not, it has a capable backup waiting in the wings. John Beck sat out
Saturday’s 38-0 win over
with a sprained ankle and backup Jason Beck – no relation – took advantage,
completing 20 of 28 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown. It was BYU’s first shutout since beating UNLV
29-0 in 1999.
John Beck rested his ankle during practice last week to be ready to play
against the Horned Frogs. The Cougars, looking for their first winning season
since going 12-2 in 2001, have lost both road games this season by a combined
10 points – a 16-13 loss at
and a 30-23 double overtime defeat to
has won eight of its past 11 conference road games. Bet now through Nine. Check out the latest odds.
SignOnSanDiego.com
Jeff Ballard had thrown only one pass at TCU before coming off the bench last September and leading
an impressive comeback victory over BYU. This time,
Ballard faces the Cougars as an undefeated starting quarterback. Not a one-game wonder, Ballard has instead
started every game since for the No. 17 Horned Frogs (3-0) and gone the
equivalent of a full season without a loss. His 11-0 mark doesn’t even include
the 51-50 victory in
Ballard took over for injured starter Tye Gunn
against BYU, the Frogs trailed 34-16 late in the
third quarter. Ballard was 8-of-12 passing for 150 yards and two touchdowns,
including a 35-yard scoring pass to Aaron Brown with 1:25 left before BYU’s tying field goal on the final play of regulation.
Patterson said the extra time off was beneficial to get over the emotional
victory against Tech, the Frogs’ fourth straight victory over a Big 12 team
since the start of last season. That also allowed bruised-up players like
Ballard more recovery time. Plus, senior tailbacks Robert Merrill (back) and Lonta Hobbs (ankle) are finally ready for their 2006
debuts. BYU had a short week of preparation after a
38-0 victory against overmatched
since 1999, also the last season they beat a Top 25
team. Starting quarterback John Beck missed Saturday because of a sprained
right ankle, which he kept in a protective boot while being shuttled around
campus this week in a golf cart. But Mendenhall said Beck would start and that
Josh Beck, who is no relation and was 20-of-28 passing for 305 yards against
Auburn-South Carolina
Statesmen
travel off short week. Minus running back Kenny Irons (sprained ankle, toe),
offense slept-walked through most of last week against woeful Buffalo, scoring
only 17 points until late in third quarter of 38-7 victory. Irons
is expected to play in return to
where he began career before transferring. Irons leads
SEC in rushing yards per game (107.3). Tigers average 184 yards per game on
ground and Gamecocks 11th in conference in stopping run.
world-class defense faces
offense that was shut out in Gamecocks’ last national TV appearance, 18-0 by
Tigers throttled Gamecocks 48-7 last year. QB Syvelle
Newton, who threw a school-record five TD passes, all to Sydney Rice, in rout
of Florida Atlantic on Saturday, will likely split time again with Blake
Mitchell.
never beaten team ranked No. 1 or No. 2 and hasn’t beaten team in top five
since 1981 (0-19). Bet this game now through BetUs. Check out the
lines now
Myrtle Beach
Spurrier was the first to admit USC enjoyed some favorable
bounces and good fortune last year during its five-game SEC winning streak. If
the Tigers put the ball on the ground or hurt themselves with penalties, the
Gamecocks need to capitalize. Bet the NFL now at -107 juice!
Check out the latest odds at CanBet.