Texas Christian University (TCU) won a thrilling double overtime game last week to top Oklahoma State to claim first in the Big 12, the second of two consecutive unbeaten teams the Horned Frogs knocked off this season.
On October 22, No. 8 TCU will host the second-best team in the Big 12, No. 17 Kansas State. The Wildcats are at 5-1 overall and have the same 3-0 record in conference play as TCU, setting up one of the weekend’s most intriguing games.
TCU boasts one of the hottest offenses in the football bowl subdivision (FBS), with quarterback Max Duggan having a career year under new head coach Sonny Dykes. The Horned Frogs are the only unbeaten team left in the Big 12 after taking out Kansas and Oklahoma.
However, the Wildcats’ defense is arguably the greatest challenge that Duggan has faced this year. The defense has allowed only 13 percent of opponent drives to end in a touchdown, eighth best in the FBS.
Duggan has thrown for nearly 1,600 yards already this season, scoring 16 touchdowns through the air while tossing only one interception. He has added another four touchdowns on the ground.
The exceptional play by the offensive line has given Duggan time to find receivers downfield, likely contributing to the success of the fourth-year starter. He is completing 65 percent of passes and has taken only eight sacks, with five coming from SMU.
Kansas State quarterback Adrian Martinez is proving that he has the chops to win after transferring from Nebraska last year. His numbers over last year are impressive, hitting 900 yards passing and four touchdowns so far without throwing an interception. In his last season at Nebraska, Martinez tossed 45 touchdowns against 30 interceptions.
This year, however, Martinez has collected 546 yards and nine touchdowns in six games.
The Wildcats play a bruising style of offense, with designated runs on almost 62 percent of plays. Running back Deuce Vaughn is expected to return after suffering a leg injury against Iowa State back on October 8, the last time that Kansas State played.
After a week off for the bye, Vaughn appears to be set to continue leading the team on the ground. He has 661 yards rushing but had only 23 yards before exiting with the leg injury.
The TCU defense has been fairly solid against the run this season, allowing a modest 135 yards average per game. The Frogs will likely be focused on the line and stopping Martinez and Vaughn from getting to the outside and turning the corner, forcing the Wildcats to turn to the passing game to keep up with the electric TCU offense.
TCU comes into the game averaging nearly 46 points per game through six games, placing third in NCAA football. The Frogs have scored 37 touchdowns against only 19 touchdowns allowed to opponents. Victory for TCU will hinge on whether Duggan and the offense can outpace the Wildcat offense, which is known for taking over games with time-consuming run plays that have limited opponents to only 16 points per game.
Kansas State will need to use its running game efficiently while putting up a defensive front against TCU in order to prevent its second loss of the season.
Sportsbook Wire has TCU favored to win with a -180 on the Moneyline and a -3.5 on the spread. The game will kick off from Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth at 7:00 p.m. CDT. Â
