Three reasons why TCU will defeat or stumble vs. Coach Prime, Colorado
Welcome back to Three Reasons Why, the best game preview you’ll find for TCU football this season.
If you go back to last season, nine times out of the 10 what was predicted in three reasons why usually played out in the game. We’ll try to keep that hot streak going in 2023 starting with TCU’s season opener on Saturday against Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes.
It’s a rematch of last year’s opener, but both teams will be drastically different with Colorado having over 60 new scholarship players while TCU had to replace eight NFL Draft picks.
Here are three reasons why TCU will start the year 1-0 or could be upset by Coach Prime and Colorado:
Three reasons why TCU will blowout Colorado
1. Better roster: Sanders did what he could to get more talent into Boulder after a 1-11 season and there are some household names like Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders and Cormani McClain, but those are only three of 85 players. Of the 50 or so transfers brought in, only six were rated four stars or higher by 247Sports. By comparison TCU brought in three four stars while returning seven starters on defense, three of its top six offensive linemen and Savion Williams at receiver.
TCU needed to reload after 2022 while Colorado had to rebuild. That’s a big difference and TCU still should have a sizable edge in overall talent and depth.
2. The trenches: For all the high-profile transfers Colorado landed, how many were offensive or defensive linemen? Not many. Jackson State transfer Tyler Brown is probably the highest profile after he was an FCS All-American, but he may be ineligible to play Saturday. On defense, Florida State transfer Derrick McLendon II is a name to know and had seven sacks the last two seasons.
Other than that it’s a collection of reserves on both sides and that’s where TCU should have advantage. The defensive line led by Damonic Williams and Paul Oyewale should generate plenty of pressure while Andrew Coker and Brandon Coleman will help the offensive line establish their will.
3. The heat: The elevation in Colorado gives teams there a bit of a natural homefield advantage, but on Saturday it’ll be TCU that should have the advantage in what could be 100-degree heat at kickoff. The Horned Frogs practiced in this sweltering heat all summer and will be prepared for Saturday while Colorado could be in for a rude awakening. This is also where TCU’s depth comes into play.
Sonny Dykes said he anticipates going deep into the depth chart on offense and defense, which means TCU will be rolling bodies in and off the field while Colorado could struggle to do the same. The Horned Frogs and heat will wear down Colorado in the second half.
Three reasons why Colorado will upset TCU
1. Travis Hunter: It’s hard to see a scenario where the Buffaloes win without some type of all-time performance by the All-American. Whether it’s generating a pick six off TCU quarterback Chandler Morris or having 100 yards receiving, maybe even both, Hunter will need to show the country why he was the No. 1 player in his recruiting class. He has the talent to make this one interesting.
2. Turnover battle: As Dykes mentioned at his weekly press conference, TCU was 13-0 in 2022 when it won the turnover battle and 0-2 when it didn’t. The one way Colorado can remain close is getting extra possessions by generating takeaways. Hunter is a ballhawk and can make a direct impact here.
3. TCU isn’t as good as we believed: While I believe Coach Prime will eventually turn Colorado around, I don’t expect it to happen during his first season. So that’s why if the Buffaloes are able to upset TCU, it would be an immediate red flag to TCU’s chances as being Big 12 contenders this year. Dykes said the team wants to prove that last year wasn’t fluke, but an opening loss would just be confirmation to all those that believed TCU is going to take a major step back.
