Rebels expect to get TCU’s best

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Conventional wisdom might suggest UNLV is catching Texas Christian at the right time.

The Horned Frogs are coming off a statement-making 38-7 victory at Brigham Young, and a letdown wouldn't be surprising against a Rebels football team with only three victories -- over opponents with a combined record of 4-17.

But TCU (7-0, 3-0 Mountain West Conference) has plenty to play for, and that could be bad news for the Rebels (3-5, 1-3) when they meet at 1 p.m. PDT today.

TCU, No. 8 in The Associated Press poll, stands at No. 6 (USA Today) and No. 7 (Harris) in the polls that are part of the Bowl Championship Series rankings. The Frogs are behind Boise State in both polls, but the computer rankings push them one spot above Boise State in the BCS standings, at No. 6.

The two teams are competing for the top spot from conferences without automatic BCS bids. And every impression is important, including the one TCU can make with a strong showing against UNLV.

So the Rebels expect TCU's best shot.

"I think if somebody told me I have a chance for a BCS berth from a non-BCS conference, I'd be pretty focused," Rebels quarterback Omar Clayton said.

The Frogs are five-touchdown favorites, so a close score might drop them below Boise State.

"They're trying to catch up in the minds of voters with Boise State," BCS expert Jerry Palm said. "They can't afford a drop. They don't need to win 63-0 or 56-20, but they need to look like a top-five team and put it on them."

TCU coach Gary Patterson doesn't believe in running up scores, but Palm said the Frogs could have an easy victory well in hand early and wouldn't have to pour it on. He expects about a 49-3 final.

"Realistically, any time a top-10 team plays a team like Vegas that's undermanned, they can't help but win big," said Palm of collegebcs.com. "If you have that good a team, you don't have to run up the score to put up a big score."

UNLV hasn't been much of a challenge for TCU since the Frogs joined the Mountain West in 2005. TCU has outscored the Rebels by an average of 39-9.

That sort of score today probably wouldn't hurt TCU, depending largely on how Boise State looks today against San Jose State.

Patterson doesn't like to discuss the BCS and points out the Frogs' schedule beyond UNLV includes a game against No. 19 Utah on Nov. 14 and what could be tricky trips to San Diego State on Nov. 7 and Wyoming on Nov. 21.

"We've got a lot of work to do," Patterson said. "It's a very tough schedule."

UNLV coach Mike Sanford prefers not to get into BCS talk either, saying his focus is solely on the Rebels. But he has plenty to worry about with the Frogs.

Jerry Hughes, who leads the Mountain West with nine sacks, might be the nation's best defensive end. He is the mainstay of a defense that tops the conference in allowing 246.6 yards and 12.7 points per game.

Quarterback Andy Dalton heads an offense that is second only to BYU in scoring (34.4 points) and total yards (428.3). Dalton has completed 63.9 percent of his passes for 1,464 yards and 11 touchdowns with just three interceptions.

"People may think I'm crazy, but we're going in there to win a football game," Sanford said. "If I think anything less, it wouldn't be right."

It is Halloween. Maybe something crazy will happen.

Voters will be checking in.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Read the latest UNLV football updates at lvrj.com/blogs/unlv_sports.

BREAKING DOWN THE REBELS

BREAKING DOWN THE HORNED FROGS

RUSHING YARDS 120.0

PASSING YARDS 261.9

2009 OFFENSIVE AVERAGES

TIME OF POSSESSION 31:05

PENALTY YARDS 45.4

RUSHING YARDS 190.1