Arizona Wildcats vs. Texas Christian Horned Frogs Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 23rd 2024
Preview and Prediction
TCU possesses the most dominant aerial attack in the Big 12 as they prepare to face off against Arizona in Fort Worth, Texas this Saturday. The Horned Frogs (6-4, 4-3 Big 12) rank sixth in the nation with an average of 329.6 passing yards per game and have gained momentum by winning three of their last four games. Quarterback Josh Hoover leads the explosive passing game, completing 256 of 378 passes for 3,233 yards, 22 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions.
Wide receiver Jack Bech has been a key playmaker for TCU, racking up 982 receiving yards and scoring nine touchdowns, with 16 of his catches resulting in gains of 20 yards or more.
In contrast, Arizona (4-6, 2-5) snapped a five-game losing streak on Friday with a 27-3 victory over Houston, keeping their hopes alive for a bowl game. However, they will have to shift their focus this week as they face a much more formidable passing team in TCU.
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The Wildcats managed to force three turnovers and make four fourth-down stops against Houston, but they will have to do so without three key defensive players who are out for the season due to injuries - defensive backs Treydan Stukes and Gunner Maldonado, and linebacker Jacob Manu.
Last week, Arizona made some changes to their offensive strategy, including inserting Joey Capra as the new right tackle, utilizing more five-receiver sets, and relying on quarterback Noah Fifita to make quick passes. Head coach Brent Brennan explained, "We've been really diligent the last couple of weeks of putting him on the clock every play and giving him that feedback in practice in the moment. I think we were also a little more consistent up front... The concept where the ball has to get out fast is what we're trying to do."
TCU's head coach Sonny Dykes announced on Tuesday that three defensive players - linebacker Cooper McDonald, nose tackle Markis Deal, and defensive lineman Hakeem Ajijolaiya - are expected to return this week after missing one or more games. Their main objective will be to contain Arizona's top receiver, Tetairoa McMillan, who has 69 catches for 1,136 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
Dykes acknowledged the challenge of facing McMillan, stating, "Right now, they have the leading receiver in college football. The guy's putting up big numbers, has a huge catch radius, and can really run. He's a big play waiting to happen, so it will be a big challenge for us."