TCU @ Oklahoma preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 1, 2016 ) Oklahoma 52, Texas Christian 46

There will be plenty on the line on Saturday night when TCU visits Oklahoma. The teams enter the contest tied for first place in the Big 12 Conference, and the winner will remain in strong contention for one of the four coveted College Football Playoff spots.

Oklahoma came in at No. 5 and TCU was sixth in this week's CFP rankings. Another quality win this weekend could be just enough to move the winner into the top four next week. Perhaps even more important is that the victor will also have the inside track for one of the two spots in the Big 12 Championship Game on Dec. 2 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Tex., a contest that likely will ultimately decide if the Big 12 can garner one of the four CFP spots. "Being at one of the last home games we're going to have, and it's important to our College Football Playoff run, I'm going to call out our fans," Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield said. "It's going to be an important one for us. ... This crowd needs to be going. We give it our all week in and week out. I expect the fans to do the same for me on Saturday."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Oklahoma -6.5

ABOUT TCU (8-1, 5-1 Big 12): The Horned Frogs rebounded from a 14-7 loss to Iowa State to stifle Texas 24-7 holding the Longhorns to just 263 total yards, including nine rushing. The nation's No. 6 rated defense, which is also No. 1 against the run (69.7 yards per gane), now takes on an Oklahoma offense that leads the nation in total offense (608.2 yards), passing offense (395.0 yards), offensive touchdowns (53), pass plays of 20-plus yards (59) and also paces the Big 12 in rushing offense (213.2). Defensive end Ben Banogu (35 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks) and linebacker Travin Howard (70 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss) spearhead the TCU defense while senior quarterback Kenny Hill (176-of-259, 2,009 yards, 15 TDs, 5 interceptions.) and running back Darius Anderson (726 rushing yards, 7 TDs) will be counted on to carry the load for TCU on offense.

ABOUT OKLAHOMA (8-1, 5-1): Mayfield, considered by some to be the frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy, leads the nation in completion percentage (71.7), pass efficiency rating (201.6) and is second in total offense (378.6 yards) and passing yards per game (358.4) after throwing for a school-record 598 yards and five touchdowns in last week's 62-52 win at Oklahoma State. Running back Rodney Anderson recorded his third straight 100-yard rushing game with 111 yards and a touchdown while sophomore wide receiver Marquise Brown hauled in a career-high nine passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns. Senior DE/LB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo tops the Big 12 in sacks (8.0) and is second in tackles for loss (14.0) and leads a Sooners defense that allows 28.2 points per game, or 14.3 more than TCU.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Oklahoma has scored at least 30 points in 18 of its last 19 games. The only time the Sooners failed was when they finished a point shy in a 29-24 win over Texas on Oct. 14.

2. Sooners TE Mark Andrews leads the nation's tight ends with 39 receptions, 701 receiving yards and an average of 18 yards per catch.

3. Oklahoma leads the series 11- and has won four of the five meetings since the Horned Frogs joined the Big 12 with the only loss coming in 2014, 37-33 in Fort Worth.

PREDICTION: Oklahoma 38, TCU 28