Destruction: TCU struts its stuff as Utah looks helpless to slow down Horned Frogs

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UTAH at TCU Utah quarterback Jordan Wynn #3 walks of the field after another fruitless offensive series late in the first half against TCU. Utah trailed TCU 38-14 at the half.

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Fort Worth, Texas » The oddsmakers were wrong after all. Making the No. 4 Horned Frogs a 20-point favorite against the No. 16 Utes was talked about as a sign of disrespect earlier this week. In the end it was -- to TCU.

The Horned Frogs (10-0, 6-0 MWC) looked every bit like the national championship contenders they claim to be Saturday as they annihilated the Utes 55-28. The last time a Utah team allowed more than 50 points was a 51-10 loss to Rice in 1996.

The chances of TCU actually playing for the BCS Championship are slim, but the Frogs did nothing to harm their case Saturday as they embarrassed last year's BCS buster.

"They are as advertised," Utah coach

Granted the Utes (8-2, 5-1) are still a work in progress as they break in a new quarterback. The Horned Frogs have methodically worked through their opponents with their veteran team.

But still, some gave the Utes at least a fighting chance Saturday if for no other reason than they've played so well as underdogs in hostile atmospheres.

However, it only took a couple plays Saturday for it be obvious this would be no Sugar Bowl-like upset for the Utes.

The Horned Frogs took the kickoff and drove 87 yards in eight plays to get the early lead. Then TCU's Tyler Luttrell smacked Utah returner David Reed hard

TCU recovered but was held to a 26-yard field goal attempt. Ross Evans, who missed two field goals against the Utes in last year's game, missed wide right. His miss was just a remindful tease of how fate has been kind to the Utes in the past.

There was no kindness Saturday from fate, Lady Luck or TCU as the Frogs' redemption for the 13-10 loss to the Utes in 2008 was avenged in a flurry of touchdowns and defensive highlights.

The Utes were held to just 65 yards rushing while TCU had 342 on the ground. Quarterback Jordan Wynn was 16-for-32 for 219 yards but threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown and was sacked twice.

TCU quarterback Andy Dalton was never sacked, completing 17 of 29 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown while the Horned Frogs had five players who averaged four or more yards on the ground as the Frogs moved the ball easily against the Utes. They only punted three times while the Utes punted nine times.

"They're a team that can't be stopped right now," Utah linebacker Stevenson Sylvester said. "They're a train rolling."

The loss was one of the most lopsided in Whittingham's career and was the worst since the Utes fell to UNLV 27-0.

At least that loss didn't get much national attention. Saturday's defeat came in the spotlight of ESPN's College GameDay and a stadium record 50,307 fans.

The game was billed as a battle of the Mountain West Conference's best. Instead it revealed just how far above the Horned Frogs are to everyone else in the conference.

"They're a great football team," Whittingham said. "as a head coach for five years, it's probably the best we faced."

Utah, which was 5-1 against the Horned Frogs since TCU joined the league, has always matched up well against the Frogs because they recruit similar athletes.

But all the Utes' speed, athleticism and big-game experience couldn't help them against TCU.

"We had some errors," Whittingham said. "You name it, an interception for a touchdown, fumbled kickoff, a blocked punt. We did a lot of things you just can't do against a quality opponent. We knew we'd have to coach exceptionally well and play exceptionally well to win and we didn't get either done."

lwodraska@sltrib.com