2011 Bowl Projections: TCU Horned Frogs Will Be Heading to Las Vegas Bowl

The TCU Horned Frogs should be heading to the Maaco Las Vegas Bowl when tonight's final BCS rankings and bowl games are announced.

Although the Horned Frogs are above the Boise State Broncos in the Mountain West Conference standings, the Broncos will ultimately claim a higher spot in the BCS rankings.

That will put them in a much better position to get an at-large bowl bid over the Horned Frogs.

The Horned Frogs stand at 10-2. While they were hoping to repeat their appearance in an at-large Bowl game—as they did a season ago at the Rose Bowl—it looks like this season they will have to settle for the designated spot for the top team in the MWC.

Their Rose Bowl win a season ago could be a point in their favor, but it remains to be seen if that will be enough put them over the top.

TCU did hand the Broncos their only loss this season, but that likely won't be enough to propel them into the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

A spot in the Vegas Bowl isn't anything to complain about. TCU will likely be taking on the Arizona State Sun Devils, a team that will be representing the Pac-12. The Sun Devils are only 6-6 this season, so they shouldn't be much of a threat for the Horned Frogs.

Unfortunately for TCU, they just didn't have a strong enough schedule to push them into a better position. With a loss to the Baylor Bears in Week 1 and an overtime loss to Southern Methodist, it is going to be difficult for them to make a case to return to an at-large bowl.

Quarterback Casey Pachall has been a great successor to Andy Dalton. He has thrown for over 2,400 yards and has 24 TDs and only six interceptions on the year. There is no doubt that he will be able to lead this offense in any bowl game; he has a chance to take them back to an at-large bowl for years to come.

There is no doubt that the Horned Frogs made a statement this season with their win over the Broncos, but they will need to make another one when they head to Las Vegas.