A smarter way to bet

By STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer

FORT WORTH, Texas(AP) -- Based on coach Gary Patterson's
philosophy, the TCU offense is doing way more than is needed.

The Horned Frogs defense is that good again.

"For us, we want to hold (opponents) to one point less, and
score one more," Patterson repeated after TCU's latest
dominating performance, a 41-0 victory Saturday over UNLV.

BCS buster hopeful TCU (8-0, 4-0 Mountain West) moved up two
spots to No. 6 in the new AP poll Sunday, its highest ranking
since 1956. The Frogs' 10-game winning streak is shorter only
than Florida (18), Iowa (13) and Texas (12).

In the new Bowl Championship Series standings released Sunday
night, TCU remained sixth and a spot ahead of Boise State (8-0),
the only other undefeated team from a non-automatic qualifying
BCS conference.

The Broncos, who beat San Jose State 45-7 on Saturday for their
eighth consecutive victory since losing to TCU in the Poinsettia
Bowl last December, were up a spot to fifth in the AP poll.

After allowing UNLV only 160 yards total in their first shutout
of the season, and sixth at home since 2003, the Frogs moved up
four spots to No. 1 in total defense (235.7 yards a game) - the
position they've finished three of the previous nine seasons.
They are third in scoring defense, giving up only 11 points a
game.

"There were a few mistakes here and there," safety Tejay Johnson
insisted after the UNLV game.

OK, so they didn't have a sack for only the second time this
season.

Like Patterson, the Frogs' defensive coordinator before his
promotion at the end of the 2000 season, TCU players are never
completely satisfied. But there is no defense playing better
right now.

UNLV (3-6, 1-5) got one-fourth of its offense on a 40-yard run
by a backup quarterback and was shut out for the first time
since 2003, a span of 69 games. Only three of the Rebels' 14
possessions ended in TCU territory, the deepest being the Frogs
34 on the same drive as the long run.

"They were fast and physical," UNLV offensive lineman Evan
Marchal said.

"I don't remember ever in my career playing against as good a
defense as that," coach Mike Sanford said.

The 160 yards were the fewest allowed by the Frogs this season
and the third time they have held an opponent to less than 200.
The most they gave up was 309 yards at Clemson in the third game
of the season.

Despite losing two fumbles in the first quarter, TCU built an
early 17-0 lead, including Antoine Hicks' 75-yard touchdown
catch from Andy Dalton. Hicks has seven TDs (four receiving,
three rushing) on 17 touches this season.

At that point, UNLV had punted five times with only two first
downs.

TCU finished with a season-high 578 yards and 390 yards rushing,
its most since 2003. The Frogs are 11th nationally scoring 35.3
points a game, and 12th in total offense at 447 yards.

"We still haven't played our best game," said Dalton, who threw
for 178 yards and three TDs. "We still have a lot of things we
can improve on. ... We have a lot of potential, hopefully we can
put it together soon."

The Frogs have a 12-game winning streak at home, outscoring
their opponents by an average margin of 43-9 since their last
loss at Amon Carter Stadium against Utah two years ago. The
17th-ranked Utes (7-1), likely the biggest obstacle for TCU to
get through the regular season undefeated, will be in Fort Worth
in two weeks.

TCU plays next Saturday at San Diego State (4-4, 2-2). The Frogs
are 8-0 for only the second time since their 1938 national
championship, the other in 2003, when they won their first 10
before losing at Southern Miss.