Texas Tech vs. TCU Prediction, Game Preview


Texas Tech at TCU prediction and game preview. Projecting who wins the game between the Red Raiders and Horned Frogs.


Texas Tech at TCU Game Preview

When: Saturday, October 29 – 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX
Broadcast: ESPN2

Texas Tech and TCU meet for the 59th time in a rivalry that resumed on a perennial basis when the Horned Frogs joined the Big 12 in 2012. It’s been a disappointing season for both schools, which will spend the final five games angling for a bowl berth. TCU, a trendy preseason pick to win the league, has lost to Oklahoma, nearly been stunned by Kansas and was pounded by West Virginia over the last three games. The 3-4 Red Raiders are riding a three-game losing, despite scoring at least 55 points on five separate occasions this season.

What To Know About Texas Tech

There are absolutely no surprises with the Red Raiders at this stage of the season. Kliff Kingsbury’s team is a one-note operation, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes as the frontman. The junior set an NCAA record with 819 yards of total offense a week, yet was on the losing side of a 66-59 track meet with Oklahoma. Texas Tech can’t stop anyone with a pulse, and likely won’t down the stretch. But they will frustrate a very soft TCU pass defense by spreading the ball around to receivers Keke Coutee, Jonathan Giles, Cameron Batson and Ian Sadler.

What to Know About TCU

The Horned Frogs can score, too, though not with the same proficiency as Texas Tech. TCU averages 36 points a game behind the balanced attack plan of Kyle Hicks on the ground and Kenny Hill through the air. Plus, fingers are crossed that top receiver KaVontae Turpin can finally return from injury after sitting out the past month. Defense remains the biggest disappointment in Fort Worth, particularly after West Virginia handed the Frogs their worst defeat as a Big 12 team. There’s individual talent up front, namely defensive tackle Aaron Curry and ends Josh Carraway and James McFarland, but the secondary continues to get burned over the top.

Advantages

Offense: Texas Tech. TCU may be the better-balanced team, but the Red Raiders can drop 50 on most teams in the FBS.

Defense: TCU. True, the Frogs are having issues on defense, but Texas Tech’s problems are at an entirely different level of ineptitude.

Special Teams: TCU. The Red Raiders don’t do special teams well either, while the Frogs have a pair of quality legs in P Adam Nunez and PK Ryan Graf.

Coaching: TCU. It’s been a rough year for Gary Patterson, though one season shouldn’t define his ability as a leader or a defensive coach.

Intangibles: TCU. The Horned Frogs are back home and testy after being manhandled by the Mountaineers in Week 8.

Matchup To Watch

Hicks vs. the Texas Tech front seven

There are so many ways to beat the Red Raider defense, which ranks next to last nationally in yards per play allowed. Patterson might elect to lean a little harder on Hicks, because he’s capable of shouldering the load and because Hill has not played well in his last two outings.

Texas Tech at TCU Betting Odds

Spread: TCU -8
Over/Under: No line as of post

Texas Tech at TCU Prediction

TCU will play with a chip on its shoulder this Saturday, eager to get beyond last week’s awful showing in Morgantown. Yeah, the Frogs will continue giving up yards and points, especially with Mahomes pitching the ball around Amon G. Carter. But they’ll also get back on the rails offensively versus one of the FBS’ worst defenses. Hill will deliver with more consistency than he has in the past two games, and Hicks will earn game MVP honors with his third consecutive 100-yard effort on the ground.

Texas Tech at TCU Score Prediction: TCU 49, Texas Tech 40

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