Undefeated Texas Christian University will face Texas Tech Saturday in an epic Big 12 battle. TCU is off to the best start the football team has had since joining the Big 12 and is advancing toward a bowl appearance and perhaps even a championship while in sole possession of first place in the conference. In the last three games, Texas Tech gave up 40+ points to Oklahoma State and Baylor, bookending a 48-10 win over West Virginia that has the Red Raiders in sixth place in the Big 12.
In last week’s victory over West Virginia, the Horned Frogs needed a late touchdown to secure the win. Quarterback Max Duggan hit Savion Williams for a 29-yard score on Fourth-and-1, leaving a mere 0:20 on the game clock. A Bud Clark interception sealed the win for TCU.
Duggan is having a career season under new head coach Sonny Dykes and has thrown for 2,212 yards with a 67.4% completion ratio and a QB rating of 182.5 — fourth in the nation. TCU is fourth in the nation in offensive yards per game, averaging 518.6 yards per game, and has shown a propensity for hitting huge plays at will against any opponent.
As proof, Duggan connected with Taye Barber for a 71-yard touchdown, the second-longest of the season for Duggan, who also hit for an 80-yarder against the Kansas Jayhawks earlier in the season. The pass to Barber wasn’t the only monster play of the day, as Duggan also hit Williams for a 57-yard reception against the Mountaineers.
On the ground, Kendre Miller has emerged as a fearsome runner with big play-making ability. Miller busted loose for 51 yards last week, while Emari Demercado also got in on the fun with a 30-yard run for a score.
Texas Tech has the ability to hit the big plays, too, but a porous defense has limited the effectiveness of the Red Raider offense. Tech has given up 30 sacks this season, tied for the most by any Power Five team. Tech has used a rotation of three quarterbacks this season to the detriment of the offense at times. In all, the QB committee has tossed a total of 15 interceptions against 19 touchdowns.
The obvious problems with the Red Raiders offense could present opportunities for the Frogs to take this game away quickly. TCU has recorded nine interceptions on defense and has recovered three of the five forced fumbles the unit has caused.
If the Red Raiders have any chance, the team will need clean play from the quarterbacks and must find a way to shut down the TCU offense that has so far this season rolled over every opponent in their path.
TCU enters the game favored to win with a predicted score of 35-24, according to Sportsbook Wire. The game will kick off at 11 a.m. CST and will be featured as part of the ESPN Big Noon Kickoff from Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth.
