Rebels travel to face TCU

October 29, 2009 by James Kaikis 

UNLV will face the No. 6 team in the nation this weekend

After winning their first road conference game in five years, the Rebels will hope to keep their winning streak going against one of the best teams in the nation, Texas Christian University.

TCU’s homecoming matchup is set for this Saturday at 1 p.m. at Amon G. Carter Stadium. It will show on Versus.

The 7-0 Horned Frogs are ranked No. 6 in the BCS standings and No. 8 in the AP poll.
They are also 36-point favorites over the 3-5 Rebels.

The question is: Will the Rebels be able to hang with the Horned Frogs, who were able to hold BYU to seven points in Provo?

Fans cannot forget the 59 points the BYU Cougars put up on the Rebels only a few weeks ago.
TCU is off to its best start since 2003, but head coach Gary Patterson isn’t taking this game lightly and doesn’t plan to underestimate the Rebels.

“We all know what we have to do to play a good UNLV team,” Patterson said. “When you play in conference, everybody knows each other so you’re not going to fool anybody.”

The Rebels are coming off a victory but will have their hands full with TCU.

Ryan Wolfe is continuing to put himself in the national record books week after week. Wolfe now ranks No. 15 in NCAA FBS history with 270 grabs.

“I think he’s an outstanding player and I think the best receiver that I’ve ever been around,” head coach Mike Sanford said.

The Rebels have been unsuccessful against the Horned Frogs, posting a 1-6 record including an 0-3 in Fort Worth, Tex. The Rebels’ lone win came during the 1997 season when both teams were part of the 16-team Western Athletic Conference.

The last time these two teams met, TCU won the game 44-14 and knocked quarterback Omar Clayton out of the game.

UNLV must step up on defense if the team has any shot at winning.

Last week against New Mexico, linebacker Jason Beauchamp had nine tackles, two sacks and a forced fumbled on his way to being named MWC defensive player of the week.

Beauchamp, who was a preseason first teamer, has been something of a disappointment this season, but his play recently has his teammates fired up.

“He finally gets that monkey off his back,” quarterback Omar Clayton said. “People can stop asking him about it. You know, it’s good for the whole team.”

Beauchamp and company will need another stellar performance this week because the Horned Frogs are the No. 13 rushing team in the nation.

The Rebels must be able to move the ball on offense. Their passing game is still in the top 30 of the country, but the TCU defense is one of the best not only in the Mountain West, but in the nation.

UNLV must be able to contain TCU monster defensive end Jerry Hughes, who is one of the best pass rushers in the U.S. today.

If UNLV is to stay in this game they must be able to get first downs, minimize turnovers and stop the TCU rush offense.