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After a thrilling win over Kansas State, TCU (6-0) should have a relatively easier time against an Iowa State (2-3) trying to come up with any sort of a win that can jumpstart the season. Each team has playmakers, each team has a decent offense, and each team should be able to put up points in bunches. Check out the TCU vs. Iowa State game preview and prediction.

TCU vs. Iowa State Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, Oct. 17
Game Time: 7:00 pm
Venue: Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, IA
Network: ESPN2

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Why You Need To Care

All then-No. 3 TCU had to do was beat Iowa State and it was in the College Football Playoff, right? Not only did the Horned Frogs win the regular season finale, they came up with a 55-3 blasting – and you know what happened next. This time around, TCU hasn’t been as dominant thanks to a slew of big injuries and problems on defense, but the offense is rocking and rolling with 50+ points in each of the last five games. With West Virginia at home next, the good run should continue to 8-0 before dealing with a trip to Oklahoma State – if the Horned Frogs get by Iowa State, of course.

The Cyclones appeared to be all set to make some noise against a decent Texas Tech team, but instead, the defense got rocked in a 66-31 loss. Now comes the hard part – Kansas and Texas Tech aren’t around on the schedule anymore. With four road trips in the final six games, and with Texas and Oklahoma State at home, this is pretty much it for the season. Lose to TCU, and forget about any and all bowl dreams. No pressure.

Why TCU Will Win

Patrick Mahomes. Texas Tech is firing away on everyone, but Mahomes went wild on the beleaguered Cyclone secondary hitting 72% of his passes for 428 yards and five touchdowns in last week’s debacle. And why? Iowa State got almost no pressure into the backfield and couldn’t seem to do anything to throw him off his rhythm. Texas Tech’s receivers aren’t in the same world of the TCU targets, and Mahomes isn’t Trevone Boykin. Texas Tech, Baylor and Rice are the only three teams better on third downs than TCU. Iowa State’s defense can’t seem to come up with a meaningful third down stop. Uh oh.

Why Iowa State Will Win

So why did Kansas State keep it so close with the Horned Frogs last week? QB Joe Hubener and the running game were able to control the game for long stretches on the way to 228 yards and six touchdowns. The key to hanging with TCU is getting the ground attack moving, with Texas Tech coming achingly close to a win with 215 yards and five rushing scores, and Kansas State being in the mix until the end. Thanks to Mike Warren, Iowa State’s ground game has been a killer with three straight 200 yard games and with 315 last week against Texas Tech – Warren accounted for 245 of them. Iowa State has a passing game, but if it can get Warren going early, it’ll be able to keep up with the TCU attack for stretches.

Player Who Matters

Trevone Boykin was in the Heisman race from the start, but he’s now taking the team on his shoulders while truly looking the part. On fire, he’s thrown for over 300 yards in each of the last four games with 485 coming against Texas Tech. Last week, when he needed to come up with the big throw, he did, finishing with over 300 yards on an effective 20-of-30 day. However, he threw two picks. Throw in the 124 rushing yards and two scores, and he’s been unstoppable. Last year against Iowa State he came up with eight carries for 44 yards, a 55-yard touchdown catch, and 460 passing yards and four scores. Don’t be surprised if there’s more of the same.

What’s Going To Happen?

Iowa State will make this a fight. Warren will run wild, Sam Richardson and the passing game will have their moments, and TCU will be pushed. And then Boykin will be Boykin in the fourth, and that will be that.

TCU vs. Iowa State Prediction

Final Score: TCU 52, Iowa State 27, Line TCU -20.5, o/u: 73.5

Must See Rating: 5: Trojan War – 1: The Muppets … 3