Duquesne Dukes (0-0) vs. TCU Horned Frogs (0-0)
September 4, 2021 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: TCU Horned Frogs -49.5 / Duquesne Dukes +49.5; Over/Under: 56.5
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The TCU Horned Frogs meet the Duquesne Dukes Saturday in week 1 college football action at Amon G. Carter Stadium. The Duquesne Dukes are coming off a 4-1 season that included a 2-0 record on the road. The TCU Horned Frogs finished 6-4 last season and enter year 22 under coach Gary Patterson.
The Duquesne Dukes averaged 25.8 points and 408.8 yards per game last season. Duquesne allowed an average of 17.6 points and 321.6 yards per game last season. Joe Mischler returns at quarterback after throwing for 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns. Garrett Owens returns after leading Duquesne with 400 rushing yards and five touchdowns while Cyrus Holder and Davie Henderson is a receiving duo that combined for 700 yards and five touchdowns. Defensively, Leandro DeBrito returns after leading Duquesne with 37 tackles, AJ Garson had 2.5 sacks and Spencer DeMedal had two interceptions. Duquesne looked solid in its limited 2020-21 season, especially defensively, and returns majority of that roster. While the competition is different this time around, the Duquesne Dukes have to like their chances to at least compete based on what we saw in a limited sample size.
The TCU Horned Frogs averaged 30.8 points and 411 yards per game last season. TCU allowed an average of 24.2 points and 350.9 yards per game last season. Max Duggan returns at quarterback after throwing for 1,800 yards and 10 touchdowns. Duggan also led TCU with 500 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Quentin Johnston and Taye Barber is a returning wide receiver duo that combined for 800 yards and four touchdowns. Defensively, Dee Winters returns after 65 tackles last season, Ochaun Mathis led TCU with nine sacks and C.J. Ceasar II had three interceptions. TCU returns pretty much everybody from last season except its leading tackler in Garret Wallow. When you throw in that much of an experienced roster to go along with coach Patterson, the TCU Horned Frogs will have a say in a competitive Big 12 this season.
On paper, this is one of the better teams Gary Patterson has had in a while and TCU should make a push for a Big 12 crown. With that said, this could be a lookahead spot for TCU with Cal on deck next week. Also, the Duquesne Dukes held their own in a five game season, especially defensively, and they return majority of that roster. TCU will win and should do it comfortably, but this is a ton of points to lay in a season opener, especially with Duquesne not being a terrible FCS program.
