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

6: Plays run by Louisiana Tech in the game’s final 17:10. The Bulldogs took a 24-17 lead on a 61-yard bomb from Colby Cameron to Myles White, and then TCU played Keep Away. The Horned Frogs ground out 31 plays for 158 yards in three drives (including the 18-play, nine-minute, game-tying drive that included two fourth-and-short conversions), forced two quick three-and-outs, possessed the ball for 14:52, and removed any hope of a Bulldog win. It wasn’t easy -- in fact, it played out almost exactly as projected -- but credit to TCU for making every play they absolutely had to make.

36: Taulib Ikharo’s catch rate. The Louisiana Tech receiver was a key cog in the Bulldogs’ offense late in the season, but despite being targeted with more passes (11) than anybody else in blue and red, he pulled in only four catches for 41 yards. In the second half, passes to Ikharo were only 1-for-4 for seven yards.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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Today’s Rootability index helps the uninvested fan decide who to pull for in a contest where they have no clear interest. The game: The San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl (8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN) an underrated warmup for the Holiday Bowl and a proper bowl because it is named after a plant or plant product like a proper bowl game should be. (“Independence” and “Fiesta” Bowls, take note.)

ROOTABILITY FACTORS: You don’t know much about Louisiana Tech, but there are a few charming factors. They are entertaining thanks to their Air Raid attack.

NOTE: Confused? See the quick glossary at the bottom.

The coaching carousel has been cruising along at a high speed in recent weeks, but (knock on wood) there does appear to be one clear winner through all the moves: Louisiana Tech. Head coach Sonny Dykes put a high-quality product on the field this season -- he got by on offense with an ultra-young quarterback, and his defense was one of the most underrated in the country -- but his name has been mostly missing from the rumor mill. If he is still the Bulldogs’ coach about a month from now, Louisiana Tech becomes the de facto power program in the Western Athletic Conference in the near and semi-distant future.

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.

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

The game will air on ESPN at 8:00 p.m. ET and will also be available for live streaming online at ESPN3.com.

Game date, time: 8:00 p.m. ET, Wednesday, December 21st

Three down, 32 to go.

And not just because these games don’t actually count for anything:

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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.

The changes to the stadium are cosmetic. New signage was installed throughout the venue, strategically placed to maximize national television exposure.

Chargers president Dean Spanos noted the historical significance of the name change in an interview with the San Diego Union Tribune. “This is a first-of-its-kind effort to completely rename a stadium without changing naming rights,” said Spanos.

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.