UNLV vs. TCU: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Radio, Game Time and More

The TCU Horned Frogs are hosting the UNLV Rebels this Saturday and looking to secure first place in the Mountain West Conference.

By doing so they keep their BCS dreams alive as long as a few other things go their way.

This game should be an absolute blowout in Texas Christian’s favor, but crazier things have happened and UNLV is always capable of pulling off an upset.

Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about this matchup.  

Where: Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX

When: Saturday, Dec. 3 at 2:30 p.m. ET

Watch: Versus

Listen: ESPN 1100 AM—UNLV, 103.3 ESPN FM—TCU

Betting Line: TCU -39

Key Storyline

TCU is still holding out hope that they can make a BCS game.

It’s technically possible despite their two losses and a Houston team that is undefeated occupying the non-AQ spot at this moment.

Jeff Caplan explains,

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Here's the three-step process that must happen for TCU to seal a third consecutive BCS berth: 

1. Houston must lose to Southern Miss -- which seemingly killed its BCS dreams with an awful loss to UAB two weeks ago. 
2. TCU must beat UNLV (2-9) to win the Mountain West Conference title outright and do so in an overpowering way to make gains with voters (playing UNLV could actually hurt TCU in the computers, just see its 34-10 win over Colorado State that dropped it from No. 19 to 20). 
3. TCU must move up two spots to No. 16 in the BCS rankings released next Sunday night. 

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Even if steps one and two come true, the third step is still going to require luck and generosity from BCS voters and computers.

TCU is going to do everything in their power to win this game by 500 points, and while they probably won’t accomplish that, it’s going to be a blowout.

Who Might Not Play for UNLV: QB Caleb Herring, QST (Shoulder)

Herring banged up his shoulder last game and may miss the final game of the season on Saturday. Sean Reilly backed him up after he went down last week but went just 1-2 with an interception to boot.

Who Might Not Play for TCU: K Ross Evans, QST (Disciplinary)

The starting senior kicker may be dismissed from the team for a criminal trespassing charge. Freshman Ryan DeNucci would replace him.

BCS/Top 25 Implications

As mentioned before, No. 18 TCU needs a lot of luck to make a BCS bowl game for the third straight year.

If they win big here and Houston loses, they’ll need Texas to beat Baylor, Wisconsin to get smoked by Michigan State or vice versa, Georgia to get destroyed by LSU and any number of lucky-break combinations to move up to No. 16 or higher.

It still might not happen for them but they can always hope.

What They're Saying

Brent Shirley over at the Star-Telegram is reporting that TCU coach Gary Patterson is looking past UNLV, something that most coaches will never admit to.

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"Our plan is not just to plan well and win against Vegas, but to also put ourselves in a good position for later," Gary Patterson said. "If you get an earlier bowl, you don't get that many practices, so you have to stay sharp right now. If you play on Dec. 20 or 21 or something, you lose a lot of practice time. Here, we don't practice during finals."

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Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal points out that the UNLV Rebels passing attack is awful this season and possibly losing starting QB Herring is going to just hurt it more.

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UNLV has been limited to single-digit passing yards once (8 at UNR) and double figures three times, including twice in the past three weeks. The Rebels' 115.2-yard passing average is last in the Mountain West and third from last nationally. Only option teams Navy (92.4 average) and Army (48.0) are lower.

 

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UNLV Player To Watch: Tim Cornett

Cornett is the team's leading rusher and touchdown scorer and will have to play perfect if UNLV wants to even keep this game close.

They will lean on him especially hard if Herring is down for the count.

TCU Player To Watch: Josh Boyce

Boyce is a 6’1”, 200-pound sophomore that can absolutely take games over.

He had five receptions for 163 yards and three touchdowns in the Horned Frogs' upset victory over Boise State.

He’s going to have a great game against the soft Rebels defense.

Key Matchup: UNLV passing offense vs. TCU secondary.

If UNLV is held to single- or double-digit passing yards this is going to be one of the biggest blowouts of the season.

Unfortunately for the Rebels, it’s a real possibility with the strength of the TCU secondary and the expected absence of their QB.  

Prediction: TCU 59 UNLV 14