Air Force Falcons at TCU Horned Frogs
Saturday, 10/23/2010, 8:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread:  TCU -19
Current Betting Line:  TCU -18.5
Opening Total:  48.5
Current Total:  48.5
Current Moneyline:  TCU -1000 / Air Force +700

Air Force comes in with a 5-2 overall mark and 3-2 conference record in taking on its third ranked team of the season this week.  TCU is the highest ranked team the Falcons have played since taking on No. 3 Oklahoma in 2001.  The team has compiled an 8-6 record in Mountain West Conference road games under head coach Troy Calhoun and are 18.5 point underdogs on the current college football lines.  The fourth-year leader of the program has stated that this Horned Frogs team is the best he’s seen since coming to the conference in 2007 and some of his players agree.  “It’s really exciting,” safety Jon Davis stated.  “Everybody looks forward to playing TCU.  We’re trying to knock them off.”  Air Force has never beaten a top-five team, going 0-12 all-time against them.  The team is 1-3 ATS versus conference opponents this season and 11-9 ATS over the past three years.

The Falcons dropped a 44-10 contest in its last visit to Fort Worth, which happened to be their worst loss of the season.  Air Force surrendered 504 total yards in the contest and were held to a season-low 161 yards.  The team is 0-4 versus TCU at Amon G. Carter Stadium, including an 0-2 mark in conference games.  Last year’s meeting was much closer in Falcon Stadium, as the No. 10 Horned Frogs held on for a 20-17 win.  Air Force and TCU are two of the top rushing teams in the nation.  The Falcons lead the nation with a 346.9 per-game average, while the Horned Frogs stand second in the MWC and 10th nationally with a 255.4 average.  The main matchup in this contest is the Falcons offensive front against a defensive unit that ranks ninth nationally in rushing defense with a 90.3 average.

TCU stands as the highest-ranked team in Texas and closes a three-game homestand with Saturday’s contest.  The Horned Frogs have not allowed a touchdown in their three Mountain West Conference games, outscoring opponents 103-3.  “The last three weeks, we played young quarterbacks,” said head coach Gary Patterson.  “I’m not willing to go out there and vote them to be the Pittsburgh Steelers yet.”  The unit will be tested more than ever this week, facing masters of the triple option.  “It’s a completely different scheme, a different system than what we face every day,” said quarterback Andy Dalton.  “I know coach is going to have them ready.”  TCU has been ready on both sides of the ball all season, being one of just two schools to rank in the top 15 in the nation in both total offense and total defense.  The squad is 13-6 ATS versus conference opponents.

The Horned Frogs have a 20-game regular-season winning streak and have won their last 12 conference games.  TCU has been so dominant that 12 of its last 14 victories have been by at least 27 points.  In its last eight home dates, the team has allowed just seven touchdowns and has outscored its opponents by a 374-64 margin, while bringing in a school-record 18-game home winning streak.  Quarterback Andy Dalton is the leader of this dominating team and is the nation’s current leader in wins by an active quarterback (36).

Bettors may elect to play the Falcons and their 45-37 ATS mark as an underdog, but the Horned Frogs are hard to stop with a 20-4 ATS record at home when the total is 42.5 to 49.  We dont have an opinion on this game but we do have 7 solid picks lined up for this Saturday.  Currently we are red hot in NCAA football and will continue the run on Saturday, visit the winning college football picks page to get signed up for this weeks top plays!