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I am up so much this week that I will chance this game.
TCU +7.5
Let me begin right from the database as TCU has COVERED at an amazing 8-1 clip since 1992 after FAILING to cover 4 of their prior 5 games!!! Meanwhile, Alabama-Birminghan is just 1-5 ATS at home since 1992 after actually COVERING 3 of their prior 4 outings!!! In addition, the hometown Blazers are a dismal 1-5 ATS against poor defensive sides who are permitting at least 31 points per game. That last statistic ALSO comes into play tonight because visiting TCU has had serious problems on defense, as they suffered 4 graduation/injury losses on the defensive line alone from a year ago. However, CLOSE games are always the order of the day when TCU gets to play on ESPN. In the past 2 seasons, ESPN has telecast SIX different Horned Frog games, with 5 of the 6 contests decided by THREE points!!! Last year, the Horned Frogs grabbed national attention by going 11-2 overall, and threatning to throw the BCS standing into complete turmoil. TCU head coach Gary Patterson has the BEST 3-year record (30-13) of any TCU mentor since way back in the 1934 campaign. The bottom line is that 9 of the past 13 TCU games, dating back to last season, have been decided by 7-or-LESS points, which is why I will gladly TAKE the generous spot tonight. The KEY to this seclection has to do with the BYE week that Texas Christian is coming off of. They desperately needed it due to numerous INJURIES. Last night, we say a Louisville team with TWO quality quarterbacks. The same thing applies at TCU, who is 10-1 with junior Tye Gunn as their starter. Both Gunn and senior Brandon Hassell WILL return from injury tonight. Hassell just happens to rank #17 nationally with a 145.78 passer rating. Thus, hometown UAB does NOT know which QB they will be facing. I talked last night about EXPERIENCE in the trenches, and the Horned Frogs do have that across a mamouth offensive line that features 4 different 300-pounders. TCU's offensive line has a total of 93 combined starts on the VETERAN unit. That offensive line continues to open up holes for the lethal running back tandem of Lonta Hobbs and Robert Merrill. Hobbs just happens to LEAD THE NATION right now with 12 rushing touchdowns. I will admit that UAB (4-1) is off to the best start in school history, however, that solid start has them "over-priced" this evening. I told you that TCU will have both of their quarterbacks' returning from injury. Well, star WR Reggie Harrell (broken finger) is also expected back tonight. Harell has over 1,000 receiving yards a year ago. The only reason why I have not rated this play higher is due to the overall poor play of the TCU defense. However, those defensive woes will help with the TOTALS release tonight, so I invite you all to read the totals analysis.
TCU OVER 60.5
My database research tells me that TCU is an amazing 6-1 OVER since 1992 when coming off a conference road win! The bottom line regarding TCU is that they are getting a ton of OFFENSIVE star players back from the injured list, as the timing of their BYE week could not have been better. Both of the Horned Frog quarterbacks (Tye Gunn and Brandon Hassell) have seen time on the sidelines. If Tye Gunn starts, TCU is 10-1 with him as a starter. If SENIOR reserve Brabdon Hassell starts, note that he is ranked #17 nationally with a 145.78 passer rating. Lonta Hobbs LEADS THE NATION with 12 rushing touchdowns. Hobbs along with excellent sidekick Robert Merrill are running behind an EXPERIENCED offensive line that has a combined 93 games of experince. The veteran offensive line of TCU enormous, with 4 players weighing in at least at the 300-POUND mark. TCU even expects to get back the services of Reggie Harrell (broken finger) this evening. A year ago, Harrell had over 1,000 overall receiving yards. TCU so far this season is averaging a whopping 38 points per game. The Horned Frogs need to score a ton of points because their defense has been deplorable. TCU's defensive line is MINUS 4 starters from a year ago, as 3 of them have graduated and another has suffered a career-ending injury. TCU's defensive line has LOST more than 100 combined starts due to attrition. The reason why tonight's posted total is so high is because BOTH teams involved can put serious points on the scoreboard. UAB'S Reggie Lindsey leads Conference USA with an average of 17 yards per punt return. Two weeks ago, Linsdey had 195 return yards both punting and kicking. UAB wide receiver Roddy White already has SEVEN touchdown receptions and is 100 yards per game receiving average is ranks him #14 in the entire country. Last month, UAB quarterback Darrell Hanckney threw for 398 yards in ONE game and has 12 touchdown passes so far. By the way, Hackney suffered a thumb injury when playing at TCU a year ago, so you know he is looking forward to this rematch. At running back, the Blazers have Dan Burks who is averaging 80 yards per contest on the ground. The UAB defense has alrady produced THREE touchdowns so far, taking advantage of opponents' mistakes. UAB has an excellent kicker in Nick Hayes who has nailed 75-PERCENT of his career field goal attempts, plus 92-of-93 extra point trys. To give you proper perspective, UAB opened the season with a 56 POINT effort on offense. I have found out that UAB standout cornerback Carlos Hendircks is NOT 100-percent due to knee woes, which will have a neagative affect on the Blazers/ defense. Despite this high total, I am looking for a similar game like last night in Miami, when the Hurricanes and Louisville lit up the ESPN scoreboard.
TCU +7.5
Let me begin right from the database as TCU has COVERED at an amazing 8-1 clip since 1992 after FAILING to cover 4 of their prior 5 games!!! Meanwhile, Alabama-Birminghan is just 1-5 ATS at home since 1992 after actually COVERING 3 of their prior 4 outings!!! In addition, the hometown Blazers are a dismal 1-5 ATS against poor defensive sides who are permitting at least 31 points per game. That last statistic ALSO comes into play tonight because visiting TCU has had serious problems on defense, as they suffered 4 graduation/injury losses on the defensive line alone from a year ago. However, CLOSE games are always the order of the day when TCU gets to play on ESPN. In the past 2 seasons, ESPN has telecast SIX different Horned Frog games, with 5 of the 6 contests decided by THREE points!!! Last year, the Horned Frogs grabbed national attention by going 11-2 overall, and threatning to throw the BCS standing into complete turmoil. TCU head coach Gary Patterson has the BEST 3-year record (30-13) of any TCU mentor since way back in the 1934 campaign. The bottom line is that 9 of the past 13 TCU games, dating back to last season, have been decided by 7-or-LESS points, which is why I will gladly TAKE the generous spot tonight. The KEY to this seclection has to do with the BYE week that Texas Christian is coming off of. They desperately needed it due to numerous INJURIES. Last night, we say a Louisville team with TWO quality quarterbacks. The same thing applies at TCU, who is 10-1 with junior Tye Gunn as their starter. Both Gunn and senior Brandon Hassell WILL return from injury tonight. Hassell just happens to rank #17 nationally with a 145.78 passer rating. Thus, hometown UAB does NOT know which QB they will be facing. I talked last night about EXPERIENCE in the trenches, and the Horned Frogs do have that across a mamouth offensive line that features 4 different 300-pounders. TCU's offensive line has a total of 93 combined starts on the VETERAN unit. That offensive line continues to open up holes for the lethal running back tandem of Lonta Hobbs and Robert Merrill. Hobbs just happens to LEAD THE NATION right now with 12 rushing touchdowns. I will admit that UAB (4-1) is off to the best start in school history, however, that solid start has them "over-priced" this evening. I told you that TCU will have both of their quarterbacks' returning from injury. Well, star WR Reggie Harrell (broken finger) is also expected back tonight. Harell has over 1,000 receiving yards a year ago. The only reason why I have not rated this play higher is due to the overall poor play of the TCU defense. However, those defensive woes will help with the TOTALS release tonight, so I invite you all to read the totals analysis.
TCU OVER 60.5
My database research tells me that TCU is an amazing 6-1 OVER since 1992 when coming off a conference road win! The bottom line regarding TCU is that they are getting a ton of OFFENSIVE star players back from the injured list, as the timing of their BYE week could not have been better. Both of the Horned Frog quarterbacks (Tye Gunn and Brandon Hassell) have seen time on the sidelines. If Tye Gunn starts, TCU is 10-1 with him as a starter. If SENIOR reserve Brabdon Hassell starts, note that he is ranked #17 nationally with a 145.78 passer rating. Lonta Hobbs LEADS THE NATION with 12 rushing touchdowns. Hobbs along with excellent sidekick Robert Merrill are running behind an EXPERIENCED offensive line that has a combined 93 games of experince. The veteran offensive line of TCU enormous, with 4 players weighing in at least at the 300-POUND mark. TCU even expects to get back the services of Reggie Harrell (broken finger) this evening. A year ago, Harrell had over 1,000 overall receiving yards. TCU so far this season is averaging a whopping 38 points per game. The Horned Frogs need to score a ton of points because their defense has been deplorable. TCU's defensive line is MINUS 4 starters from a year ago, as 3 of them have graduated and another has suffered a career-ending injury. TCU's defensive line has LOST more than 100 combined starts due to attrition. The reason why tonight's posted total is so high is because BOTH teams involved can put serious points on the scoreboard. UAB'S Reggie Lindsey leads Conference USA with an average of 17 yards per punt return. Two weeks ago, Linsdey had 195 return yards both punting and kicking. UAB wide receiver Roddy White already has SEVEN touchdown receptions and is 100 yards per game receiving average is ranks him #14 in the entire country. Last month, UAB quarterback Darrell Hanckney threw for 398 yards in ONE game and has 12 touchdown passes so far. By the way, Hackney suffered a thumb injury when playing at TCU a year ago, so you know he is looking forward to this rematch. At running back, the Blazers have Dan Burks who is averaging 80 yards per contest on the ground. The UAB defense has alrady produced THREE touchdowns so far, taking advantage of opponents' mistakes. UAB has an excellent kicker in Nick Hayes who has nailed 75-PERCENT of his career field goal attempts, plus 92-of-93 extra point trys. To give you proper perspective, UAB opened the season with a 56 POINT effort on offense. I have found out that UAB standout cornerback Carlos Hendircks is NOT 100-percent due to knee woes, which will have a neagative affect on the Blazers/ defense. Despite this high total, I am looking for a similar game like last night in Miami, when the Hurricanes and Louisville lit up the ESPN scoreboard.