Friday Night College Football viewing guide & why-to-watch

SMU vs. No. 16 TCU (-23.5, O/U 59.5)

After last year’s egg-laying, which saw the Horned Frogs get blasted in both meetings against the Sooners, much more is expected of the TCU defense. It looks as though a more veteran squad may have the horses this year. However, that is offset by the loss of Kenny Hill. Trill was a very serviceable B12 quarterback, but now the Toads in Fort Worth must turn to former backup, Shawn Robinson. Robinson is a prototypical Frogs slinger — highly mobile and athletic, with the arm strength to execute Patterson’s vertical iteration of the spread.

This bad-blood crosstown rivalry with Dallas’ SMU dates back almost a century. However, still 30 years following the Death Penalty, the Mustangs have never quite turned the corner. With the loss of Chad Morris to Arkansas, the Ponies looked to have found themselves on the short end of the coaching carousel again. This time, it was a soft landing. Morris’ replacement is probably an even better, and certainly more veteran coach. Sonny Dykes, like Patterson, runs a fast, vertical air raid offense. Defense was always his downfall at Louisiana Tech and California, a commodity he really won’t need in the AAC. But, it should be an offense that tests the Frogs’ secondary as it gears up for B12 play (and that huge home game against the Buckeyes).

Tonight’s affair is one the Horned Frogs can’t easily overlook. SMU has all the motivation in this one, though probably not the talent. But, at home, this one may be a good ole’ fashioned shootout for a while. It’ll certainly be worth catching a few minutes of on an otherwise-slow Friday night — at least to see how the other half lives (shudder.)