This Week's Game of the Century: TCU vs. BYU

Half of the 2009 college football season is in the books as the eighth week of the season is upon us. There have been an excess of upsets, comebacks, and parity in the early going.

Several teams have been involved in pulse-pounding games numerous times and others have rolled through the competition. Last week's Game of the Century came down to the waning minutes, where USC was able to hold off a late rally by Notre Dame.

This week's Game of the Century hopes to live up to the bar set by last week's contest. There is a lot at stake in this game, as both teams enter the game in the Associated Press Top 16. This week's game that hopes to establish its place in college football lore is between TCU and BYU.

Both teams come in with impressive resumes through their first slate of games, and the stakes for this game between the Mountain West rivals are as high as Balloon Boy on a fall afternoon. 

TCU comes in with a conference record 13-game MWC winning streak and a nine-game winning streak overall. BYU carries a 6-1 record with an impressive win over Oklahoma in Week 1.

TCU and BYU both have plans of taking their postseason aspirations to new heights, by gaining a lucrative spot in one of the BCS's marquee games. TCU comes in ranked eighth in the first BCS Standings and BYU is currently ranked 16th.

The offensive and defensive firepower is absolutely electric in this one. BYU comes in with the sixth-ranked offense in the country, putting up 38.6 points per game.

TCU has the fourth-ranked defense in the country and has not allowed an opponent score more than 21 points all season. 

This game also pits a pair of new rivals looking to gain the inside track to a conference title. Between the rivalry, the rankings, a conference championship, and the offensive and defensive matchups; this game has all the makings of a true Game of the Century.

New Rivalry

The all-time series is 5-3 in favor of BYU, but the last two meetings between the two teams have been all TCU. Last year, TCU ended the nation's longest winning streak by taking down BYU by a score of 32-7 last season.

BYU is looking to turn the tables on the Horned Frogs, as TCU is forced to travel up to BYU's home turf, where the Cougars are known to be difficult to beat. BYU has held a 23-2 record at LaVelle Edwards Stadium since its last loss at home against TCU in overtime during the 2005 season.

Rivalries in college football are what drive programs, and cause such passionate fan bases to be formed. TCU and BYU have emerged as consistent national powers and their meetings should garner more interest as time goes on.

Both fan bases should grow to have animosity to the opponent as these games become more heated over time.

The way both teams have played over the last several years, this game will begin to take on severe national implications as well. News stations, websites, and blogs will grow to look forward to this rivalry as each team continues to find success through the years.

The Rankings

TCU and BYU come into this game with serious resumes and the voters have recognized their success thus far. Each team is ranked in the AP, Coach's, and BCS's top 16 as they enter their mid-fall matchup.

TCU has their eyes set on a date with a BCS bowl game as they currently rank in the top eight of the bowl and have a definitive shot of crashing the BCS party. The Horned Frogs have shown their worth with victories over Clemson and Virginia in the early going.

BYU shot up the polls with their opening season victory over Oklahoma but dropped when they fell to Florida State at home in Week 3. BYU has rebounded by winning four in a row and have climbed back into the BCS discussion.

A win for either team will solidify their argument for a bid to a BCS bowl game, and shoot either team up the rankings. A loss will most likely end the loser's quest to participate in the Rose, Orange, Sugar, or Fiesta bowls.

Conference Championship

This game has all the qualifications to be marketed as an unofficial conference championship game. BYU and TCU are the class of the Mountain West, with Utah following closely behind.

Since the Mountain West's inception in 1999, BYU and TCU have combined to win half of the conference championships (BYU-4x, TCU- 1x), and three of the last four.

Each team focuses on capturing the conference title at the beginning of the season, as they know the victor of the division most likely has the best shot at a BCS bowl game.

The winner of this game not only gets a jump on the inside of the track towards a conference championship, they also control their own destiny. The loser would have to win out and hope that Utah or one of the victor's remaining opponents can knock them off in the waning weeks of the season.

Offensive/Defensive Clashes

Great Offense (BYU) vs. Great Defense (TCU) is what is on tap for this one. BYU is powered by Heisman Trophy contender Max Hall and running back Harvey Unga, while TCU is anchored by All-America defensive end Jerry Hughes.

Last season's clash saw TCU take down Hall seven times, with two of those sacks by Hughes. Hall was unable to get a steady rhythm going during the game, and TCU was able to ruin BYU's 14-game winning streak.

This year, Hall has put up staggering numbers throughout the season's first half, as he ranks eighth in total offense in the country.

Hall has led BYU's spread attack and compiled 2,069 yards and 16 TDs. Hall has rounded out his earlier inconsistencies, with a standout performance against San Diego State last week (346 yards, 3 TDs).

BYU's aerial attack revolves around a multitude of receivers that all can get involved in the passing game. Dennis Pitta is the Cougars leading receiver, pulling down 5 TDs to go along with an average of 67.3 yd/game.

Pitta is joined by McKay Jacobson, who has gathered 280 yards and three touchdowns. J.J. DiLuigi, Bryan Karriya, and Andrew George all have two receiving touchdowns apiece to balance out the Cougar passing game.

The plethora of weapons at wide receiver has allowed BYU to lead the MWC with 306 yd/game through the air. Quarterback Max Hall is also able to rely on a several receivers which makes life difficult for opposing defensive coordinators.

Hall is joined in the backfield by the Mountain West's leading rusher Harvey Unga. Unga is averaging 95.8 yd/game with 9 TDs, and a 5.6 yd/carry average.

Unga's ability to gain yards on the ground has opened up defenses and allowed Hall more time to find one of his talented receivers downfield.

BYU will have to see if it's up to its biggest challenge of the season when it faces off against TCU's treacherous defense. TCU's suffocating defense has not allowed teams to breathe, let alone think about gaining yards.

Their rushing defense ranks eighth in the country allowing 81.17 yd/game and only three rushing touchdowns. Teams have been forced to go to the air, where those aspirations have been met like a driving point guard into the lane with Dikembe Mutumbo guarding the paint.

TCU is only allowing 238 yard/game, and offenses have had a difficult time managing to get anything going against the brick wall that is the Horned Frogs defense. TCU has not allowed an opponent to amass more than 20 points, except for when they were up by 50 on Texas State and let up a late score.

Keys to the Game

The BYU offense needs Max Hall to win the game for them. For this to happen, the Cougars need to get Unga going early and often. TCU was able to come after Hall last year because the rushing attack was ineffective.

If BYU is able to establish the run and Unga is able to pick up four to five yards a carry, then TCU will be forced to bring more guys into the box and not rush straight up field to get to the quarterback. When this happens, TCU will be forced to bring an extra defender into the box and the passing game will open up.

Hall is BYU's best player hands down. When he is given protection, Hall is capable of finding one of his many talented receivers downfield.

If Hall is rushed into throws, this could become a turnover fest. Hall has shown by his 10 interceptions that he is capable of throwing to the other colored jersey if he is flustered in the pocket.

BYU's defense needs to stop Joseph Turner and TCU's rushing attack first and foremost. Turner can bust it up the middle in between the tackles and score dirty for the Horned Frogs. His 7 TD's with 5.2 yd/carry shows what the bruiser is capable of doing.

TCU's quarterback Andy Dalton is consistent for the Horned Frogs attack and does not make many mistakes. BYU must stop the rushing attack, and then they can focus on getting after Dalton. Mixing up the looks often will give Dalton trouble as he will not be able to find his usual receivers.

The key for TCU's offense is to grind this one out on the ground and in the intermediate passing game. BYU wants to be on offense, and the more TCU is able to muscle them on offense, the longer their vaunted defense can stay off the field and not worry.

If the offense is able to stay on the field, it will also keep Hall out of rhythm while he watches from the sideline. Turner should pound it up the gut and Dalton should manage what is given to him, with check downs and dump offs. This will keep BYU off-balance and keep control of the game in TCU's favor.

TCU can put up the points as they have averaged over 30 points a game thus far. Look for Turner to pound the ball so Dalton will be able to find receivers Jimmy Young, Jeremy Kerley, Antoine Hicks and Clay Curtis downfield.

The key for the TCU defense is to exactly what it did last season. Play suffocating run defense, blitz often and create turnovers. Hall has been plagued by interceptions all season and TCU needs to see that that trend does not end before their game.

If TCU is able to stop Unga, then Hall will be forced to win it just in the passing game. That is where TCU wants the game to go, as they can not allow Unga to beat them.

Prediction

TCU 20-17.