Announcement

**InsiderEdge** · 10-15-2004, 03:46 PM

Game goes at 7:00 tonight.

**InsiderEdge** · 10-16-2004, 08:05 AM

Another easy one heading into the weekend and our big Saturday card.

TCU Horned Frogs at UAB Blazers 7:00 PM ET

UAB Blazers –7 –110 (2 Units)

With a three-game winning streak, UAB is 4-1 for the first time since the program made the move to Division I-A in 1996. The Blazers are steadily gaining confidence. UAB has two impressive wins on the road over Cincinnati and Mississippi St. and while they aren’t top-notch competition, they have learned how to win these big games. They are 2-0 at home this season, destroying Baylor and defeating a Memphis team that is much better than TCU. The Horned Frogs are nothing more than an average team since last season’s great start. After starting last season 10-0, TCU is 4-4 in its last eight games. They have just 2 wins on the road during this span and those are against Army and SMU, a combined 2-34 the last two seasons. The Blazers will be looking for some payback as TCU nipped UAB last season, 27-24. The Blazers hurt themselves with 12 penalties for 111 yards.

After their game against TCU, three of the next four games for UAB are against teams that have each won only one game this season and are a combined 3-12. A win over the Horned Frogs should get them in position for a possible championship against Southern Mississippi on November 27th, since they miss Louisville this season. Offensively, the team is getting a good balance between run and pass. Since there isn't as much pressure on Darrell Hackney to win games, he's making plays with his feet and his arms. His scrambling is making life difficult for opponents. UAB must also continue to take care of the ball and keep penalties to a minimum. The Blazers haven't had a turnover since the Memphis game, a span of two straight games. The Blazers are also not hurting themselves with silly penalties. TCU's total defense (428.6 yards per game) ranks 97th out of 117 Division I-A teams. The pass defense is worst in the nation (337.2). TCU has been suspect to say the least and is giving up 35.4 ppg and 428.6 total ypg. They had a porous September on defense, giving up 45 points to both Northwestern and South Florida and a staggering 70 points to Texas Tech. A shutout of hapless SMU was the only thing preventing the Horned Frogs' defense from being ranked last in the nation in points allowed. They righted themselves against army in their last game but comparing Army and UAB cannot be done. Even though army shut down in the final three quarters, they had first-quarter scoring drives of 73, 74 and 76 yards. This defense is nowhere near what it was a season ago. South Florida put up 45 points on them (14 points in overtime) but the 31 points they scored in regulation are only 13 points less than what they scored in their other 3 games combined. TCU and Baylor both run a 4-2-5 defense, a fact that Alabama-Birmingham receiver Roddy White suggested could give his team a head start in preparations for Friday's game against the Horned Frogs. UAB beat Baylor, 56-14, in the season opener. Coach Gary Patterson said he plans to wait and see before determining a starting quarterback for the UAB game. Tye Gunn is questionable after he missed the last game at Army. TCU backup Brandon Hassell is not 100% either, so TCU will have a tough time with this offense until both of the quarterbacks are 100%. The key could be how well the defensive unit plays. TCU may not field a dominant defense, but the Horned Frogs have proved they can score a bunch of points in a hurry with talented quarterbacks Hassell and Gunn and running backs Lonta Hobbs and Robert Merrill. UAB has some solid playmakers on defense however. Defensive end Larry McSwain, linebackers Gaylon Black and Zac Woodfin and cornerback Bobby Keyes can change the course of a game on the defensive side of the ball. UAB has made up for the numerous passing yards surrendered by picking off nine passes in 196 attempts. The Blazers are after two things they've never achieved: a Conference USA title and a bowl berth. Once upon a time, a win against Mississippi State would have been celebrated till the end of the year. Now it's merely the means to an end. Head coach Watson Brown said UAB would be better off spending more time in the film room than on the practice field during the short week. "We'll try to get a little more meeting time and spend less time on the field and try to prepare that way," Brown said. "If we go on the field Friday night and we aren't well-rested, we will be making a big mistake against TCU."

Announcement

SEC Game of the Year Saturday - TCU/UAB Tonight

SEC Game of the Year Saturday - TCU/UAB Tonight

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