2011 Poinsettia Bowl, TCU Vs. Louisiana Tech: Frogs Enter Big 12 With Bowl Win

TCU Vs. Louisiana Tech, Poinsettia Bowl 2011: The Numerical

A look at the numbers that mattered in TCU's 31-24 Poinsettia Bowl win last night in San Diego.

2011 Poinsettia Bowl, TCU Vs. Louisiana Tech: Recap And Score

The TCU Horned Frogs lost two games by a combined total of nine points -- a 50-48 loss to Baylor in the season-opener and a 40-33 overtime loss to SMU midway through the year -- but ended up in San Diego, matched with Louisiana Tech in the Poinsettia Bowl. Judging by TCU's resume, Wednesday's matchup should've been somewhat lopsided, at least on paper.

Facing an 8-4 Louisiana Tech squad, though, TCU got all it could handle, only just barely squeaking by for a 31-24 win. It took 14 fourth-quarter points by the Horned Frogs and some timely defensive stops, but TCU was able to leave San Diego with an 11-win season and a bowl victory to boot.

Luke Shivers drew the Horned Frogs even midway through the fourth quarter, capping a clock-burning 18-play, 71-yard drive that took 9:21 of game-time. Just over three minutes later, TCU was back in the end zone for what turned out to be the game-winner. This time around, though, it was by way of the quick strike as Casey Pachall found Skye Dawson for 42 yards and the touchdown.

The defense held and the celebration was on as TCU took the seven-point win over a resilient Louisiana Tech squad.

Even in a losing effort, Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Dykes didn't misplace his sense of humor. Hopefully this one-liner was completely unintentional.

Sonny Dykes: "If you asked most of the national media, they wouldn't know what state Louisiana Tech is in."

Multiple individual records were set in the bowl game, as well. Colby Cameron's 43 attempts, a product of Sonny Dykes' offensive scheme, were a new Poinsettia Bowl record. Casey Pachall also set single-season school marks for completions and yardage in the win. Both records were previously held by Andy Dalton.

TCU Vs. Louisiana Tech Final Score, Poinsettia Bowl 2011: Frogs Finish On Top

The 2011 Poinsettia Bowl, an exercise in penalties and other misfortune for much of the evening, turned into a darn shootout there at the end. The TCU Horned Frogs emerged with the 31-24 victory, their second straight bowl win in the state of California.

Five touchdowns in 15 minutes set up the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs with a seven-point deficit as four minutes remained. They stalled, and it was on TCU to burn out some clock. A loping Casey Pachall first down juuust about put it away with under two minutes to go.

La Tech won the first half, though the scoreboard didn't show it, but wasn't able to make enough of its advantage. A bricked field goal and a first-and-goal that turned into a non-bricked field goal made for seven points missing, which would've altered the second half quite a bit. Two Bulldogs turnovers negated any gains they might've gained from TCU's many mistakes, and the more talented team emerged with the win.

Skye Dawson is your box score hero, posting 85 yards and a touchdown for the Horned Frogs. Quarterbacks Pachall and Colby Cameron combined to throw 36-of-72 for 470, an odd arrangement of numbers indeed.

It's the 109th win in Gary Patterson's TCU career, tying him for the all-time school lead. 

For more on the Poinsettia Bowl, visit TCU blog Frogs O' War. For more college football, visit SB Nation's college football blogs and college football news hub.

Louisiana Tech Vs. TCU Bowl Score Update: Mistakes Costing Frogs

The 2011 Poinsettia Bowl has not been a glamorous contest, with each side committing gaffes and flubs aplenty. It's a watchable game, but there's going to be a lot of gnashing for the loser. The latest: the TCU Horned Frogs botched a punt from the left foot of Ryan Allen, setting up an easy Hunter Lee touchdown, matching a Matthew Tucker score earlier in the second half.

It's now 17-17 midway through the third quarter in a game TCU was supposed to win by two scores. There's still plenty of time, of course, but neither team has played well enough to make you think, "That team, that team right there, should win this game."

TCU's offense has at least gotten going, putting together a 55-yard, 11-play drive on their last touchdown effort. They still trail La Tech by more than 80 yards.

For more on the Poinsettia Bowl, visit TCU blog Frogs O' War. For more college football, visit SB Nation's college football blogs and college football news hub.

Poinsettia Bowl 2011 Halftime Score: Ed Wesley Deposits Tying Touchdown

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs were the better team in the first half of the 2011 Poinsettia Bowl, nearly doubling the yardage produced by the TCU Horned Frogs. Still, they'll take only a tied score, 10-10, into the locker room, with a doinked field goal and two turnovers among La Tech's missed opportunities.

Costly penalties have continued for TCU, though the Frogs were able to correct the latest. A ticky-tack punter-roughing penalty threatened to prevent TCU from making a last-minute charge, but Greg McCoy emerged with an interception and a long return to set up a seven-yard Ed Wesley touchdown.

Colby Cameron has 177 yards passing on 27 attempts, with four receivers pulling in multiple catches. TCU's offense has accomplished very little, failing on all five third down conversion attempts, while its defense is at least forcing bend-don't-break situations that have gone about 50-50.

For more on the Poinsettia Bowl, visit TCU blog Frogs O' War. For more college football, visit SB Nation's college football blogs and college football news hub.

TCU Vs. Louisiana Tech Score Update: La Tech Builds Early Advantage

The TCU Horned Frogs are now down 10-3 in the 2011 Poinsettia Bowl, giving up a two-yard touchdown strike from Louisiana Tech Bulldogs quarterback Colby Cameron to Quinton Patton. In response, TCU has already punted the ball back to the Bulldogs. Upset harbinger Joe Tessitore is in the booth, I remind you.

Penalties are doing in TCU, though they only have three. Two have killed big gains, while another gave La Tech a chance at a touchdown earlier in the game. So far, you'd have to say the Bulldogs are playing with more spirit and focus and so forth.

Other than a 34-yard pass from Casey Pachall to Josh Boyce, the Frogs don't have much to offer on offense, since penalty-nullified plays don't count. I hope you already knew that.

For more on the Poinsettia Bowl, visit TCU blog Frogs O' War. For more college football, visit SB Nation's college football blogs and college football news hub.

Poinsettia Bowl 2011 Score Updates: Louisiana Tech Banks Opening Points

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs have the first lead of the 2011 Poinsettia Bowl, putting a 3-0 edge on the TCU Horned Frogs. They'd already had a field goal, but a penalty gave them a first down inside the 10. Matt Nelson tacked on the 22-yarder to conclude the 12-play drive.

TCU forced Colby Cameron into some awkward throws by dropping all sorts of Frogs into the back of the end zone, creating some pretty big crowds. In two La Tech drives, Cameron's thrown 17 passes already. 

The Horned Frogs mustered only three yards on their opening drive, hampered by some tricky field position at Snapdragon Stadium. That's the name of it, and the world eagerly awaits Lou Holtz reciting the entire official name of the bowl and the stadium alike.

For more on the Poinsettia Bowl, visit TCU blog Frogs O' War. For more college football, visit SB Nation's college football blogs and college football news hub.

PHOTO: Casey Pachall's 'TCU' Haircut, San Diego-Approved

Rootability Index: The Poinsettia Bowl Is Edible And Delicious

TCU Vs. Louisiana Tech, Poinsettia Bowl 2011: Frogs May Win, But La Tech Wins Too

Louisiana Tech rides an underrated defense and coaching stability to San Diego. To pull an upset of the mighty TCU Horned Frogs, however, they will probably need a nice game from a California local, quarterback Colby Cameron.

Poinsettia Bowl 2011: TCU's Antoine Hicks Mysteriously Suspended

The 2011 Poinsettia Bowl will kick off on Wednesday night between the TCU Horned Frogs and Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in San Diego, but there was a bit of an interesting wrinkle added to the game on Tuesday. The Horned Frogs will apparently be without wide receiver Antoine Hicks.

Hicks was the Frogs third-leading receiver this season while playing in all 12 games, but the senior wide out won't be in attendance when No. 15 ranked TCU takes the field on Wednesday. In fact, according to a report from the Star-Telegram, he won't even be in attendance.

TCU receiver Antoine Hicks will not play in Wednesday's Poinsettia Bowl for violating school policy, coach Gary Patterson said. Hicks, a senior from Mansfield Timberview, sent a twitter message yesterday indicating that he was traveling to Indiana.

Patterson said the matter was not academically related and that Hicks is still scheduled to graduate in May.

Freshman David Porter will likely get the starting nod in place of Hicks.

For more on the TCU Horned Frogs visit SB Nation's TCU blog Frogs O' War. Also stay tuned to SB Nation's 2011 college football bowl game coverage.

Poinsettia Bowl 2011, TCU Vs. Louisiana Tech: Time, TV Schedule, Odds And More

The TCU Horned Frogs missed out on going to a third consecutive BCS Bowl game, but they'll have to keep their focus to stop WAC Champions Louisiana Tech in the Poinsettia Bowl.

Bowl Picks: Beef O'Bradys Bowl, Poinsetta Bowl, Las Vegas Bowl

We've played three bowls, but there are 32 to go! Get ready for the next three games with Odds Shark's picks for the Beef O'Brady's Bowl, the Poinsetta Bowl, and the Las Vegas Bowl. All content comes courtesy of SB Nation's odds partners at Odds Shark.

The Best Thing Any Players Will Do All Bowl Season

Poinsettia Bowl 2011, TCU Vs. Louisiana Tech: Horned Frogs Here For The Last Time

When the TCU Horned Frogs take the field against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs on Wednesday, they'll be appearing in the bowl for the third time in six years. Following two straight BCS appearances and the departure of Andy Dalton to the NFL, TCU weren't expected to make a BCS appearance, but they came close. They went 10-2 and won the Mountain West, but finished in 18th in the BCS rankings. They needed to finish 16th to get in.

Because they missed a possible BCS berth by two spots, they drop down to the Poinsettia Bowl. There, they take on WAC champions Louisiana Tech, a bit of a step down from the BCS. Fortunately for TCU, this is their last year in the Mountain West conference. They will be a member of the Big 12 next season, and their agreements with bowls are a bit more high-profile (and financially lucrative) than the Poinsettia Bowl. 

Not only is TCU less likely to get dissed by the BCS in the Big 12, the drop-off isn't nearly as severe if they miss out.

For more on Horned Frogs visit SB Nation's TCU blog Frogs O' War. Also stay tuned to SB Nation's 2011 college football bowl game bids coverage.

Snapdragon Stadium? Chargers' Qualcomm Stadium Gets New Name For The Week

Qualcomm Stadium will be called Snapdragon Stadium on Sunday night when the Chargers host the Ravens for the prime time game. Why exactly is the place called Snapdragon Stadium?

Poinsettia Bowl 2011: Odds Shifting Slightly Toward LA Tech

Though the betting opened with the TCU Horned Frogs as 11-point favorites over their Poinsettia Bowl opponent, the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, on Odds Shark, depending on where you look, the Horned Frogs are now on 10 or 10.5-point favorites in their Dec. 21 matchup at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. It looks as if bettors have decided that 11 points is a little too much for the Horned Frogs, and have swung pretty hard onto the Bulldogs' bandwagon.

The betting on the over/under of 55.5 total points has been completely even, so that point total prediction has remained unchanged. Despite TCU's victory over the Boise St. Broncos — the Broncos' only loss of the season — and the fact that La. Tech is a mere 8-4 to TCU's 10-2, the defensive nature of both these teams have gamblers betting against a high scoring game, and against a blowout. Bowl season has a way of making fools of us all.

For more on Horned Frogs visit SB Nation's TCU blog Frogs O' War. Also stay tuned to SB Nation's 2011 college football bowl game bids coverage.

Poinsettia Bowl 2011: TCU Favored Big Over Louisiana Tech

TCU's Justin Fuente Will Be Memphis Football Coach, Gary Patterson Confirms

TCU Horned Frogs co-offensive coordinator Justin Fuente will be the next head coach of the Memphis Tigers, TCU coach Gary Patterson confirmed to the Star-Telegram Wednesday night. TCU's offense ranked No. 12 in 2010 and No. 28 this year.

Fuente's last reported opportunity for advancement was the LSU Tigers offensive coordinator search last season.

Patterson: 

"He will do well and work hard to make Memphis a better place," Patterson said.

Fuente played quarterback at Oklahoma and Murray State (Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year, y'all) before coaching on the offensive side at Illinois State and then TCU. He has 11 years of coaching experience, but this is his first head gig. And what a challenge it is: Memphis has won five games in the past three years.

Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Jim McElwain reportedly accepted the Memphis job before changing his mind. It became available shortly after the season, when Larry Porter was relieved of duties.

For more TCU, visit TCU blog Frogs O' War. For more college football, stay tuned to SB Nation's college football news hub.

TCU, Louisiana Tech, 2011 Poinsettia Bowl: TCU Disappointed In No BCS Bid

The TCU Horned Frogs will head back to California for a bowl game, but it's not in the BCS this time.

Poinsettia Bowl 2011: TCU Gets Louisiana Tech

The TCU Horned Frogs will slip from a potential BCS bid all the way to the 2011 Poinsettia Bowl, and Louisiana Tech will be their foe in San Diego. Just in case you weren't aware that the Poinsettia Bowl was played in San Diego, the sponsor is the San Diego County Credit Union. Now that's targeting your demo.

@Samantha_Steele Looks like I will have #TCU in the poinsettia bowl in San Diego.. Calling game w/Joe Tess, Mark May & Lou Holtz dec 21    

Joe Tessitore, Lou Holtz and Mark May will announce the game on ESPN on Wednesday, December 21 at 8:00 p.m. The game's tie-in's rotate with this year's game featuring the No. 2 team from the Mountain West against a WAC opponent.

Navy has played in the most Poinsettia Bowls with three while TCU and Utah have played twice. Last year's game, which saw San Diego State beat Navy, was the highest attended Poinsettia Bowl game with 48,049 in attendance.

Game date, time: 8:00 pm ET, Wednesday, December 21

Location: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA

TV channel: ESPN

2010 winner and loser: San Diego State 35 - Navy 14

For more on each bowl game as it’s announced, stay tuned to SB Nation’s 2011 college football bowl game bids coverage. And visit our many college football blogs.

2011 Poinsettia Bowl: Louisiana Tech Heading For San Diego

Louisiana Tech is heading out west this bowl season after accepting a bid to play in the 2011 Poinsettia Bowl on Sunday. The Bulldogs won the WAC this season, finishing at 8-4 overall and 6-1 in conference. And the reward is a trip to sunny San Diego for a December 23rd matchup!

Louisiana Tech's opponent is yet unknown, though the other Poinsettia tie-in is with the Mountain West Conference. The Poinsettia Bowl has the second choice of MWC teams, meaning Louisiana Tech could face San Diego State, who would essentially be playing a home game, or Wyoming.

The bowl appearance will be the Bulldogs first since the 2008 season, when they played in the Independence Bowl. That year, Louisiana Tech defeated Northern Illinois in Shreveport, Louisiana by a final margin of 17-10. The win capped an 8-6 season for the Bulldogs.

For more bowl selections and invitations, be sure to check out our College Football Bowls StoryStream.