Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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Not that the BYU Cougars have a shabby defense, and not that the TCU Horned Frogs have an ordinary offense, but the matchup that should draw the most attention will be observed when BYU has the ball.
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The Cougars do a number of things exceptionally well on offense--the same things TCU defends better than almost anyone else.
Of note:
BYU First Downs Per Game: 24.0 (#8 nationally)
TCU First Downs Allowed Per Game: 12.0 (#1 nationally)
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BYU Third Down Conversion: 64% (#1 nationally)
TCU Third Down Conversion Allowed: 27% (#5 nationally)
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BYU Scoring Offense: 38.6 ppg (#6 nationally)
TCU Scoring Defense: 13.7 ppg (#10 nationally)
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BYU Passing Yards Per Game: 306.0 (#11 nationally)
TCU Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 156.8 (#9 nationally)
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BYU Pass Efficiency: 166.5 (#2 nationally)
TCU Pass Efficiency Defense: 100.7 (#21 nationally)
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BYU Total Offense Per Game: 469.4 (#7 nationally)
TCU Total Defense Per Game: 238.0 (#4 nationally)
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BYU Red Zone Offense: 31/33, 28 Tds--85% TD rate
TCU Red Zone Defense: 9/12, 6 TDs--50% TD rate
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BYU Sacks Allowed Per Game: 1.29 (33rd nationally)
TCU Sacks Per Game: 3.33 (6th nationally)
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Even on special teams, one of BYU's strengths matches TCU's strength.
BYU Net Punting: 39.1 (10th nationally)
TCU Punt Returns: 16.8 (11th nationally)
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It could be that that the two teams meet somewhere in the middle, but if one side dominates the "something's gotta give" categories above, that team should be your winner.
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There is one area in which TCU has been traditionally strong, yet has struggled a bit this season--and that's turnover margin. The Frogs are -3 and rank 90th currently in that category, with only 7 takeaways. Last season, TCU forced 28 turnovers, so the current pace would give the Frogs exactly half that total this season.
BYU has forced 13 turnovers in six games, while committing 15; the Cougars rank 75th nationally in turnover margin.
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Did you know?...
BYU's O'Neill Chambers has a better kickoff return average (30.9 on 9 kickoff returns; 10th nationally) than TCU's Jeremy Kerley (27.3 on 10 kickoff returns; 19th nationally). Yes, Chambers had a 97 yard return thrown in there, but yards are yards--they all count and they all get you closer to the opponents' goal line.
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Since joining the MWC in 2005, TCU has allowed more than 28 points only three times in conference play (34 games), and BYU accounts for two of the three occasions--
2005: TCU 51 BYU 50 (OT)
2006: BYU 31 TCU 17
2007: TCU 45 SDSU 33
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