The TCU Horned Frogs will host the Nicholls State Colonels in their home opener on Saturday, September 9, at 7 p.m. (CT) at Amon G. Carter Stadium. The game will be broadcast on Big 12 Now/ESPN+. The Horned Frogs are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 0-2 start, while the Colonels are hoping to pull off an upset in their first-ever meeting with TCU.
TCU Struggles in First Two Games
The Horned Frogs entered the season ranked No. 17 in the preseason polls, but they quickly fell out of the rankings after losing their first two games. They opened the season with a 31-24 loss to Arkansas State, a team that finished 4-7 last year. TCU quarterback Max Duggan threw for 276 yards and two touchdowns, but he also had two costly interceptions. The Horned Frogs also struggled to stop the Red Wolves’ rushing attack, which gained 216 yards and three touchdowns.
In their second game, TCU faced Colorado, a team that reached the College Football Playoff last season. The Horned Frogs were competitive for most of the game, but they could not overcome a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter and lost 34-24. Duggan had another solid performance, throwing for 312 yards and three touchdowns, but he also fumbled twice. The Horned Frogs’ defense gave up 467 yards of total offense to the Buffaloes, including 289 yards and four touchdowns to quarterback Brendon Lewis.
Nicholls Loses Season Opener to Sacramento State
The Colonels are coming off a 38-28 loss to Sacramento State in their season opener. Nicholls is a member of the Southland Conference, which is a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) league. The Colonels finished 4-2 last year and won a share of the conference title. They also made the FCS playoffs for the third straight year, but they lost in the first round to North Dakota State.
Nicholls is led by sophomore quarterback Pat McQuaide, who transferred from Mississippi Gulf Coast CC. McQuaide threw for 196 yards and one touchdown and ran for another score against Sacramento State. He also threw one interception and was sacked four times. The Colonels’ offense relies heavily on the running game, which averaged 5.1 yards per carry and scored three touchdowns against the Hornets. The Colonels’ defense struggled to contain Sacramento State’s passing game, which threw for 354 yards and four touchdowns.
Game Prediction and Odds
There is no betting line for this game, as it is a matchup between an FBS and an FCS team. However, TCU is expected to win comfortably and get back on track after their rough start. The Horned Frogs have a clear advantage in talent, depth, and experience over the Colonels. TCU also has a history of dominating FCS opponents, as they have won their last 18 games against them by an average margin of 43 points.
The Colonels will try to keep the game close by running the ball and controlling the clock. They will also hope to force some turnovers and capitalize on TCU’s mistakes. However, the Horned Frogs’ offense should be able to score at will against Nicholls’ defense, which gave up 38 points to an FCS team. TCU’s defense should also be able to shut down Nicholls’ passing game and limit their big plays.
The final score prediction is TCU 49, Nicholls 10.