TCU vs. SMU: Mustangs Will Not Surprise Horned Frogs This Time Around

The last time SMU and TCU squared off, the Mustangs surprised and got the better of the Horned Frogs from Texas. TCU remembers it well: an overtime game that ended with a 40-33 defeat at the hands of SMU. It is the last time the program lost a football game.

The SMU Mustangs aren’t going to slip by the Horned Frogs in this year’s edition of the matchup.

TCU knows what it's up against this time around and is hungry for revenge for the shocking upset of a season ago.

The Horned Frogs also retooled their defense and have imposed their will on their opponents to this point in 2012.

"Retooled" is putting it very lightly.

The TCU defense is the No. 1-ranked scoring defense in the country, allowing only 4.3 points per game after wins against Grambling State, Kansas and Virginia.

How is SMU’s offense this year?

It managed just 24 points in a blowout loss to Baylor earlier in the season. That same Baylor defense just surrendered 656 yards passing and 70 points to Geno Smith and the West Virginia Mountaineers.

Two weeks ago, SMU was stomped and held to a mere three points by a questionable Texas A&M defense.

While it’s never wise to compare teams in such ways, one has to wonder whether or not SMU has the firepower even to contend with TCU this season. The Mustangs defense has been atrocious, surrendering 35.7 points per game, No. 105 in the country.

That’s probably due to their defense’s inability to stop the pass. The unit is surrendering 388 passing yards per game. That’s an FBS worst.

TCU throws the ball well with Casey Pachall behind center. Pachall is leading the country in passer rating (209.9) and has thrown for eight touchdowns with just one interception to date.

The Horned Frogs aren’t the same team they were last year, and neither is SMU. It’s going to be ugly at Gerald Ford Stadium for the hosting Mustangs.

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Mike Hoag is a Breaking News Team writer with Bleacher Report and also covers the Cleveland Browns and the NFL for the site.