When the TCU Horned Frogs shunned the GMAC Bowl so they could play in their home stadium at the Fort Worth Bowl, they figured home-field would give them an advantage.
However, that's not shaping up to be the case. Fans in Cowtown seem to care more about cattle than pigskin even though they're hosting their first bowl game in decades.
As of Monday, only 31,000 tickets had been sold for Tuesday's PlainsCapital Fort Worth Bowl to be held at the 45,000-seat Amon G. Carter Stadium.
• Fort Worth Bowl • Bowl Central •
TCU averaged just over 36,000 fans per game this season, which ranked second-highest in team history. The club saw 42,161 people at its final home game against Cincinnati, won handily by TCU 43-10.
The growing enthusiasm for the Horned Frogs helped propel the team to a 6-0 straight up (SU) record at home. They haven't lost at Amon G. Carter Stadium in 13 outings and bring that streak into Tuesday's bowl bout. The streak started with a 37-22 victory over 17th-ranked Louisville on Nov. 23, 2001.
Funny as it may sound, the Horned Frogs' home-field edge seems to be playing right into the hands of their opponents.
The Horned Frogs can't seem to behave themselves after five players were suspended by the team on Sunday for missing curfew and drinking.
In addition, a 12-1 Boise State team seems to take special pride in beating opponents on the road. The Broncos went 6-1 SU on the road this campaign and 5-2 against the spread (ATS). In the six SU wins, Boise State won by an average of 22.83 points.
TCU went 3-3 ATS at home this season, though this week's matchup marks the first time all year the school enters a home tilt as the underdog. Oddsmakers have the Broncos favored by 10 points.