College Football Playoff 2022 Prediction: Why TCU’s No. 3 Horned Frogs Can Defy the Odds and Win It All

Quantity 3 TCU It has emerged as some of the underrated Faculty Soccer Playoff groups because the format started in 2014. From lacking a sport in 2021 to turning into the primary Large 12 out Oklahoma To make the sphere in 2022, TCU’s one-year turnaround is amongst school soccer’s greatest tales. Nevertheless, do not suppose the Horned Frogs are comfortable to be right here within the semifinals. They’ve their sights on a nationwide title.

Heading into the ninth version of the playoffs, the Large 12 is the one convention wherein the CFP has not received. That would change with the Frogs, who grew to become the primary Large 12 workforce to go undefeated within the common season because the league transitioned to a round-robin format. With the qualification of Heisman quarterback Max Duggan, TCU has confirmed that it may well deal with its enterprise.

pre-seasonTCU boasted the identical nationwide championship odds (200-1) as TCU BordeauxAnd the Arizona And the Mississippi. CFP attain exceeds expectations by one mile. Nevertheless, there are three the explanation why TCU needs to be thought-about a authentic nationwide championship contender en path to the ultimate stage.

1. It features a group of expert gamers

In a 12 months when whole items had been above particular person excellence, TCU might have one of the best group of offensive stars within the CFP.. Quarterback Max Duggan completed second in Heisman Trophy voting after an thrilling senior season wherein he emerged as a nationally related two-string quarterback. Operating again Kendre Miller has over 1,300 yards and 17 touchdowns. The hidden star may be broad receiver Quentin Johnston, who elevated himself to a first-round broad receiver within the 2023 NFL Draft.

“Johnston is a high-level playmaker whose athleticism and catching skills make him a contested WR1 at this level within the proceedings,” Ryan CBS Sports activities NFL Draft Analyst Wilson wrote about Johnston.

With Ohio State Operating again TreVeyon Henderson with a foot damage, TCU boasts one of the best receiving again trio within the playoff sport by a outstanding margin. The trio leads all CFP’s QB/RB/WR mixtures in yards and narrowly trails Ohio State for many touchdowns. Dynamic expertise means TCU can strike at a second’s discover – they usually can sustain with anybody.

2. It is okay to be uncomfortable

Of the 4 Faculty Soccer Playoff groups, just one has a lot expertise taking part in in shut video games. TCU has performed six video games to at least one rating in 2022 and has a document of 5-1. If Duggan had dropped simply six inches ahead within the Large 12 Championship Sport vs. Kansas StateThe Frogs would have been an ideal 7-0 in video games like this.

Michigan is the one different workforce within the playoffs to play a number of one-point video games. The Wolverines went 2-0 in these scores, however they wanted some miracle simply to flee the midway level Illinois Group. Georgia sleepwalked in opposition to unhealthy Missouri workforce, however managed to drag out ultimately. Ohio State has not performed a single sport that has been determined by fewer than 11 factors.

Within the greatest moments, Duggan and the TCU come again to life. In 5 convention video games between October 15 and November 12, the Frogs greater than doubled their opponents’ factors within the second half (86-40). In consecutive performances vs Oklahoma State and Kansas State, the Frogs outscored their opponents 51-10 within the second half.

Whereas shut margins in opposition to TCU had been held throughout CFP deliberations, it offers the Frogs an in depth sport DNA that different packages did not have to develop the thrust right into a playoff sport certain to be crammed with aggressive contests. Within the greatest moments, Duggan and TCU get up. That may be an enormous benefit in opposition to elite-level competitors.

3. THE FROGS WERE TESTED IN BATTLE

The Large 12 was the deepest school soccer convention this season, trailing solely the SEC in SP+ common with each league member ranked 62nd or increased. The Frogs additionally performed SMU, giving them 11 opponents within the high half of the faculty soccer standings in 13 video games.

What’s extra is that TCU has made it by means of this powerful schedule and not using a single open week in between SMU sport on September 24 and the Large 12 Championship sport in opposition to Kansas State on December 3. Merely put, there was no workforce that needed to be mentally more durable than TCU over the course of 13 video games to the ultimate stretch.

One other win once more Baylor November nineteenth stays the right instance of discovering TCU performs if you want them and dealing underneath duress. Following or linking with the Bears all the sport, the Frogs ran a two-minute drive within the fourth quarter to arrange a subject aim as time expired. Fireplace drills seemed chaotic by the second, however coach Sonny Dykes mentioned after the sport that the play was one thing the workforce practices each week.

Faculty Soccer is the final word bodily and psychological draining battle on the most important stage. By way of pure expertise and depth, the Horned Frogs rank effectively behind Georgia, Ohio State, and Michigan, nevertheless, TCU has the psychological fortitude to compete — and perhaps even win all of it.

Making a CFP case for… No. 1 Georgia | No. 2 Michigan | No. 4 Ohio State