TCU Horned Frogs 2009 College Football Picks: With an experienced squad, Texas Christian University will most certainly look to follow the path of Mountain West Conference rival Utah and crash the BCS party. The college football picks experts at online sportsbook SBG Global has the TCU Horned Frogs listed at +2500 odds to win the 2010 BCS National Championship Title.
 
#7 TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
2008 Season Record: 11-2
2008 Final Rank: 7
Returning Starters on Offense: 6
Returning Starts on Defense: 5
 
Pros: The Horned Frogs return key players on both sides of the ball.  Andy Dalton is a dual-threat quarterback capable of impacting the game both as a passer (2,242 yards, 11 touchdowns) and runner (432 yards, eight touchdowns).  Receiver Jimmy Young (59 catches, 988 yards) leads a veteran receiving corps.  All-American defensive end Jerry Hughes (15 sacks) returns to anchor a defense that allowed the fewest yards per game in the nation and ranked second in scoring defense.  All-MWC defensive backs Nick Sanders and Rafael Priest are both three-year starters.
 
Cons: The defense must replace two All-Conference linebackers as well as three starters on the defensive line.  The offensive line is solid, but must replace three-time All-MWC center Blake Schlueter.
 
Surprise Stat: The running attack ranked 12th nationally despite not having a runner with more than the 577 yards gained by Joseph Turner.  Five players gained at least 384 yards on the ground.

The college football picks odds makers at SBG Global have the TCU Horned Frogs season win totals listed at OVER/UNDER 9 games.
 
Overall Outlook: The offense isn’t going to blow anyone away, but it is a solid unit and last year made very few mistakes. The defense should again be one of the best in the nation.  TCU has all the ingredients needed for a return to the national top 10. However, they have a challenging non-conference schedule with two trips to the east coast in September to face ACC squads Virginia and Clemson.  The Horned Frogs may have found their next superstar running back in Waymon James.  The addition of defensive backs Jurell Thompson and Malcolm Williams should help an already solid defensive backfield.
 
Big Game: The games at Virginia and Clemson will be vital if the Horned Frogs hope to earn a spot in a BCS Bowl.  Their home date with Utah also will be a key match-up on the schedule.  The toughest challenge of the season could come on October 24th, when the Horned Frogs travel to Provo for the MWC contest with Brigham Young University.  Both teams face Utah later in the season, so the winner of the BYU/TCU contest could be in the driver’s seat to claim the conference title.
 
Key to Success: The passing game has been solid, but unspectacular in two seasons with Dalton running the attack.  If he can raise his game another notch, the Horned Frogs could showcase a more balanced offense this season and make things even tougher on opposing defenses.  Special teams can often be a decisive factor in tight games, and TCU is traditionally solid in all facets.  Kicker Ross Evans (97 points) and punter Anson Kelton (41.3 punting average) were both integral performers as freshmen and should continue to solidify the kicking game.  Junior Jeremy Kerley (13.9 punt return average) was an All-MWC choice as a return specialist.

Online Sportsbook SBG Global has posted the following odds to win the 2010 BCS National Championship:

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