TCU, Patterson learned lesson from loss to Utah
No. 4 Horned Frogs big favorite against No. 16 Utes this week
Most football coaches act as if point spreads don't exist, but Utah's Kyle Whittingham acknowledged being a big underdog Saturday at Texas Christian got his players' attention.
And that was when the Utes were merely 17-point underdogs. Imagine what the reaction must be now that the line has jumped to 20 points.
There's a good reason that No. 4 TCU is such a huge favorite. The Horned Frogs are blowing out opponents, they will be at home, and this Utah team -- though ranked No. 16 -- isn't as potent as the Utes squad that pounded Alabama in last season's Sugar Bowl.
Plus, there's the motivation factor. TCU outgained the Utes 416 yards to 275 last season, but lost 13-10.
Patterson, however, insisted revenge is not on the Frogs' minds. He said that defeat served as a lesson -- a lesson that the Frogs since have applied to victories over Boise State in last season's Poinsettia Bowl and this year in wins at Clemson and Brigham Young.
"It helped us grow up, it helped us mature," he said.
Patterson said he also did his own share of growing up, saying he had to adjust his style in how he approaches game weeks and game days.
"This team is a little bit more laid back of how you talk to them, how you approach big ballgames," he said. "It's been a very close team since back in January. What I've tried to do is stay out of the way. Usually, if they've struggled or been a little bit tense, it's because I screwed them up."
* ESPN IS SOLD -- Even at No. 4 in the Bowl Championship Series standings, not many observers give TCU much of a chance to play for the national championship.
One of the current top three teams will lose because No. 1 Florida and No. 2 Alabama meet in the Southeastern Conference championship game. The Frogs must hope Texas, No. 3 in the standings, loses at some point, but even that might not be enough.
Some college football experts believe a one-loss team from a power conference would jump ahead of TCU.
But count ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit as being aboard the TCU bandwagon, saying Tuesday he would favor seeing the Frogs earn their way into the big game.
Herbstreit and the rest of ESPN's "College GameDay" crew will be at TCU on Saturday before its game against Utah. This is the third time this season the show will originate from a Mountain West site. It had never happened more than once.
"You like playing in big ballgames," Patterson said. "That's really what you play for -- national attention and to get a chance to prove what kind of player you are and what kind of team you have."
* COMING UP SHORT? -- If there would be a downside to the Frogs making a BCS game, it would be the likelihood the Mountain West wouldn't fill its five bowl slots.
Four teams are bowl eligible. Wyoming and San Diego State need to win two of their final three games, and they play each other Saturday. Wyoming leading tackler Brian Hendricks is doubtful because of an ankle injury.
UNLV, a 17-point underdog at Air Force, must win its final two games.
"All we can do is create bowl opportunities and five seems to be our magic number based upon the past few years," MWC commissioner Craig Thompson said in a statement.
MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL
CONFERENCE STANDINGS
The Mountain West from top to bottom:
No. 4 Texas Christian (9-0, 5-0 MWC) vs. No. 14 Utah (8-1, 5-0): Horned Frogs haven?t let an opponent into the red zone for the past 10 quarters.
No. 16 Utah (8-1, 5-0) at No. 4 TCU (9-0, 5-0): Utes have won 29 of their last 31 games and 22 of 23.
No. 22 Brigham Young (7-2, 4-1) at New Mexico (0-9, 0-5): Cougars try to go 6-0 on the road for the first time since 2001 when they won their first six away games before losing at Hawaii.
Air Force (6-4, 4-2) vs. UNLV (4-6, 2-4): Falcons are 13-4 at home over the past three seasons.
San Diego State (4-5, 2-3) vs. Wyoming (4-5, 2-3): Aztecs? minus-8 turnover margin is last in the MWC.
Wyoming (4-5, 2-3) at San Diego State (4-5, 2-3): Cowboys? 52-0 loss to BYU was their worst home defeat since a 62-0 loss to Colorado State in 1922.
UNLV (4-6, 2-4) at Air Force (6-4, 4-2): Rebels are 3-2 in November over the past two seasons after going 1-12 from 2004 to 2007.
New Mexico (0-9, 0-5) vs. No. 22 BYU (7-2, 4-1): Lobos? last victory over a ranked team was in 2003 against No. 23 Utah.
Colorado State (3-7, 0-6), off: Rams one of three teams nationally with one or fewer lost fumbles.
FIVE BEST PLAYERS
1. Jerry Hughes, DL, TCU: Key player behind the nation?s No. 3 defense.
2. Andy Dalton, QB, TCU: Climbs two spots to No. 4 nationally in pass-efficiency rating.
3. Max Hall, QB, BYU: Second nationally in pass efficiency, but has thrown 11 interceptions.
3. Eddie Wide, RB, Utah: Las Vegan has rushed for more than 100 yards six games in a row.
5. Reggie Rembert, DB, Air Force: Quality kick returner who also has three interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries for nation?s No. 7 defense.
THEY WROTE IT ...
CBSSports.com?s Eric Sorenson, on TCU?s 55-12 victory over San Diego State: ? Here?s a memo to teams like Florida, Texas and Alabama: THIS is how you blow out a middle-of-the-road team and look good doing so.?
THEY SAID IT ...
Colorado State coach Steve Fairchild, on a 35-16 loss to UNLV: ?I thought we lost our composure there in the second half. That?s not what a class football team does. I was embarrassed for our fans, players and coaches.?
Wyoming coach Dave Christensen, on the loss to BYU: ?I thought our program had improved. It?s an embarrassment. I?m embarrassed and I apologize. It was the worst-ever game I?ve seen by a football team.?
San Diego State offensive coordinator Al Borges, on the loss to TCU: ?It was a complete and total annihilation. ... It?s good for us, believe it or not, to play these types of teams so we know what it takes to get to that level.?
No. 4 Horned Frogs big favorite against No. 16 Utes this week
Most football coaches act as if point spreads don't exist, but Utah's Kyle Whittingham acknowledged being a big underdog Saturday at Texas Christian got his players' attention.
And that was when the Utes were merely 17-point underdogs. Imagine what the reaction must be now that the line has jumped to 20 points.
There's a good reason that No. 4 TCU is such a huge favorite. The Horned Frogs are blowing out opponents, they will be at home, and this Utah team -- though ranked No. 16 -- isn't as potent as the Utes squad that pounded Alabama in last season's Sugar Bowl.
Plus, there's the motivation factor. TCU outgained the Utes 416 yards to 275 last season, but lost 13-10.
Patterson, however, insisted revenge is not on the Frogs' minds. He said that defeat served as a lesson -- a lesson that the Frogs since have applied to victories over Boise State in last season's Poinsettia Bowl and this year in wins at Clemson and Brigham Young.
"It helped us grow up, it helped us mature," he said.
Patterson said he also did his own share of growing up, saying he had to adjust his style in how he approaches game weeks and game days.
"This team is a little bit more laid back of how you talk to them, how you approach big ballgames," he said. "It's been a very close team since back in January. What I've tried to do is stay out of the way. Usually, if they've struggled or been a little bit tense, it's because I screwed them up."
* ESPN IS SOLD -- Even at No. 4 in the Bowl Championship Series standings, not many observers give TCU much of a chance to play for the national championship.
One of the current top three teams will lose because No. 1 Florida and No. 2 Alabama meet in the Southeastern Conference championship game. The Frogs must hope Texas, No. 3 in the standings, loses at some point, but even that might not be enough.
Some college football experts believe a one-loss team from a power conference would jump ahead of TCU.
But count ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit as being aboard the TCU bandwagon, saying Tuesday he would favor seeing the Frogs earn their way into the big game.
Herbstreit and the rest of ESPN's "College GameDay" crew will be at TCU on Saturday before its game against Utah. This is the third time this season the show will originate from a Mountain West site. It had never happened more than once.
"You like playing in big ballgames," Patterson said. "That's really what you play for -- national attention and to get a chance to prove what kind of player you are and what kind of team you have."
* COMING UP SHORT? -- If there would be a downside to the Frogs making a BCS game, it would be the likelihood the Mountain West wouldn't fill its five bowl slots.
Four teams are bowl eligible. Wyoming and San Diego State need to win two of their final three games, and they play each other Saturday. Wyoming leading tackler Brian Hendricks is doubtful because of an ankle injury.
UNLV, a 17-point underdog at Air Force, must win its final two games.
"All we can do is create bowl opportunities and five seems to be our magic number based upon the past few years," MWC commissioner Craig Thompson said in a statement.
MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL
CONFERENCE STANDINGS
The Mountain West from top to bottom:
No. 4 Texas Christian (9-0, 5-0 MWC) vs. No. 14 Utah (8-1, 5-0): Horned Frogs haven?t let an opponent into the red zone for the past 10 quarters.
No. 16 Utah (8-1, 5-0) at No. 4 TCU (9-0, 5-0): Utes have won 29 of their last 31 games and 22 of 23.
No. 22 Brigham Young (7-2, 4-1) at New Mexico (0-9, 0-5): Cougars try to go 6-0 on the road for the first time since 2001 when they won their first six away games before losing at Hawaii.
Air Force (6-4, 4-2) vs. UNLV (4-6, 2-4): Falcons are 13-4 at home over the past three seasons.
San Diego State (4-5, 2-3) vs. Wyoming (4-5, 2-3): Aztecs? minus-8 turnover margin is last in the MWC.
Wyoming (4-5, 2-3) at San Diego State (4-5, 2-3): Cowboys? 52-0 loss to BYU was their worst home defeat since a 62-0 loss to Colorado State in 1922.
UNLV (4-6, 2-4) at Air Force (6-4, 4-2): Rebels are 3-2 in November over the past two seasons after going 1-12 from 2004 to 2007.
New Mexico (0-9, 0-5) vs. No. 22 BYU (7-2, 4-1): Lobos? last victory over a ranked team was in 2003 against No. 23 Utah.
Colorado State (3-7, 0-6), off: Rams one of three teams nationally with one or fewer lost fumbles.
FIVE BEST PLAYERS
1. Jerry Hughes, DL, TCU: Key player behind the nation?s No. 3 defense.
2. Andy Dalton, QB, TCU: Climbs two spots to No. 4 nationally in pass-efficiency rating.
3. Max Hall, QB, BYU: Second nationally in pass efficiency, but has thrown 11 interceptions.
3. Eddie Wide, RB, Utah: Las Vegan has rushed for more than 100 yards six games in a row.
5. Reggie Rembert, DB, Air Force: Quality kick returner who also has three interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries for nation?s No. 7 defense.
THEY WROTE IT ...
CBSSports.com?s Eric Sorenson, on TCU?s 55-12 victory over San Diego State: ? Here?s a memo to teams like Florida, Texas and Alabama: THIS is how you blow out a middle-of-the-road team and look good doing so.?
THEY SAID IT ...
Colorado State coach Steve Fairchild, on a 35-16 loss to UNLV: ?I thought we lost our composure there in the second half. That?s not what a class football team does. I was embarrassed for our fans, players and coaches.?
Wyoming coach Dave Christensen, on the loss to BYU: ?I thought our program had improved. It?s an embarrassment. I?m embarrassed and I apologize. It was the worst-ever game I?ve seen by a football team.?
San Diego State offensive coordinator Al Borges, on the loss to TCU: ?It was a complete and total annihilation. ... It?s good for us, believe it or not, to play these types of teams so we know what it takes to get to that level.?
