The Edge

Passing offense
TCU
Redshirt freshman Tye Gunn will start in place of the injured Sean Stilley. Gunn has more mobility and a keen ability to throw on the run, albeit less experience than Stilley. Seniors LaTarence Dunbar and Adrian Madise are arguably the best receiving duo in Conference USA and could take the pressure off Gunn in his first career start.

Houston
Junior Nick Eddy, starting in place of the injured Barrick Nealy, has not been the second coming of either David Klingler or Andre Ware. He is 10 for 24 with an interception for the season. Senior KeyKowa Bell leads the team in receptions, with 12 for 135 yards.

Edge: even

Rushing offense
TCU
Junior Kenny Hayter is out with a separated shoulder. Tthe Frogs will likely employ a running back-by-committee approach. True freshman Lonta Hobbs could see some carries.

Houston
Senior Joffrey Reynolds has three 100-yard rushing games. He also averages a robust 5.2 yards a carry.

Edge: Houston

Rushing defense
TCU
The Frog D has held opponents to a minuscule 2.4 yards a carry. An injury-riddled TCU defense limited North Texas to 34 yards on the ground two weeks ago. Now that the defense has received an extra week to rest their injuries, expect a repeat performance.

Houston
Houston will start two true freshmen tackles, Matthew Bentley and Kade Lane. Senior safety Hanik Milligan has 53 tackles on the season, many of them on opposing runners. They will have to improve from their last performance against Texas, where they allowed 52 rushes for 233 yards.

Edge: TCU

Passing defense
TCU
Disregarding the fourth quarter versus North Texas , TCU’s secondary has been stout since the loss against Cincinnati. Senior John Turntine has dominated opposing lines, amassing three sacks and recovering two fumbles.

Houston
The Cougars allow 205 passing yards a game. They have just three interceptions on the season. Milligan paces the pass defense as well.

Edge: TCU

Special Teams
TCU
Junior Nick Browne has not missed a field goal or an extra point all year. Senior Joey Biasatti averages 41.9 yards a punt and has placed 11 punts inside the 20-yard line.

Houston
Sophomore Dustin Bell has connected on all seven field goal attempts. Junior punter Jimmy McClary averages just 37 yards a punt in his two years with Houston. Middleton averages 18.7 a kick return.

Edge: TCU

Intangibles
TCU
The Frogs had two weeks to prepare for Houston and recover from four games in three weeks. The players should find motivation since this is a conference game, and Homecoming against another school from Texas.

Houston
Houston would love to spoil TCU’s Homecoming game. Houston coach Dana Dimel has not won a C-USA game since 2000 and Cougar fans are becoming restless with the coach they sometimes refer to as “Dana Dimwit.”

Prediction TCU 23, Houston 10

— Jay Zuckerman