What the experts think about TCU football

Mel Kiper, Jr. ESPN College Football Writer
Gary Patterson is a fantastic football coach, and TCU should be favored to win the Conference USA title.

The Horned Frogs return QB Tye Gunn, who was phenomenal in four games last year. In those four games, TCU averaged more than 40 points while Gunn completed 62.6 percent of his passes and threw six touchdowns. He's got a great arm and wonderful mobility, but he blew out his knee in the eighth game of last season against Southern Mississippi and had to sit out spring practices. But he should be ready to go this season.

Sophomore running back Lonta Hobbs rushed for 1,029 yards as a freshman. Four TCU running backs have rushed for 100-plus yards in a game (the others are Ricky Madison, Corey Connally and Kenny Hayter.) Connally and Hayter will work as fullbacks this year, leaving Hobbs as the man.

The wide-receiver position is questionable because the Horned Frogs lost Adrian Madise and LaTarance Dunbar to the NFL draft. This puts pressure on junior Reggie Harrell, who had 13 catches last season for a 15.8-yard average. He has great potential and good size (6-3, 215.)

On the offensive line, center Chase Johnson is one of the best anchors in C-USA. Left tackle Anthony Alabi is a quality lineman, and tight end Cody McCarty can be an effective receiver.

TCU led the nation in run defense last season. The defense's strength is the line, led by four seniors, including rugged nose tackle Chad Pugh (6-3, 305) and (defensive end) Bo Schobel (71ž2 sacks and 19 tackles for loss last year). Safety Marvin Godbolt is solid. Cornerback Tyrone Sanders has excellent recovery skills but must work on his ball skills, because he'll be tested by quarterbacks this year.

Newy Scruggs: NBC 5 Sports Director and TCU Football Announcer
"Four games. That's all he's started. Four games." That's what Horned Frogs offensive coordinator, Mike Schultz, told me in July. Schultz reads the papers and knows everyone is looking at Tye Gunn as the next big thing at TCU. The last offensive player to get that much preseason hype was LaDainan Tomlinson. Texas Football Magazine even chose Gunn as the best QB in the state of Texas. Like any good coach, Schultz doesn't want to see over-hype for a sophomore signal caller.

If Gunn can average 40 points per start as he did last season, TCU could be a Top 10 when it's all done. But 40 points is not being realistic. If the Bo Schobel led defense can finish in the top five statistically again, this team can repeat as Conference USA champs.

Look for Lonta Hobbs (C-USA Freshman of the Year) and Ricky Madison to carry the load at running back. Schultz will also give Robert Merrill a chance to run the ball as well. If the Frogs can run, play defense, and Gunn is running and throwing, look out.

But beware, for the second year in a row, the Frogs will open the season with a conference game on the road this Labor Day and have to play five days later against Navy. That's going from a open field passing attack Tulane club to Navy's triple option.

My prediction. 10-2

Dale Hansen: ABC 8 Sports Director
I'm like most TCU fans, I expect a great deal from this team. The team has made it to five straight bowl games and that should become six this season. A bowl berth will most likely give this year's senior class a chance to break the school record of 36 wins. I fully expect it to happen.

Gary Patterson and his staff have done a great job of putting TCU football in a position of having a really good team EVERY year. A lot of schools can jump up and surprise you for a year or maybe two, but six in a row sure is something special.

It's not Nebraska but then again my Huskers aren't winnning that much now anyway.