Kansas State @ TCU preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 14, 2017 ) Texas Christian 26, Kansas State 6

TCU looked like a legitimate Big 12 title contender back in mid-September when the Horned Frogs, ranked 15th at the time, rolled up 511 yards in a back-and-forth 40-28 loss to then No. 4-ranked Ohio State. But TCU has dropped three straight games and five of their last six heading into Saturday afternoon's home game with Kansas State.

That has TCU head coach Gary Patterson wondering out loud not only whether his team be able to bounce back and earn a bowl berth but whether his injury- and mistake-plagued team will win another game this season. "We are 3-5, might be 3-9 before it is done," Patterson said after last Saturday's shocking 27-26 loss at Kansas, ending a 14-game losing streak in Big 12 play for the Jayhawks and moving TCU into a three-way for last place in the Big 12 with Kansas State and Kansas. "You've got to be careful throwing coaches or kids under the bus when you've lost pieces to your chessboard. ... Obviously we didn't do a couple smart things in the ballgame last week but you keep moving forward, you keep developing your kids and get ready to play." The Horned Frogs, who have lost 10 starters to injury and suspensions, will try and bounce back against a Kansas State squad that has lost four of its last five games including a 51-14 loss at Oklahoma last week, a game that saw the Sooners finish with 702 total yards.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1. LINE: TCU -8

ABOUT KANSAS STATE (3-5, 1-4 Big 12): The Wildcats are a one-dimensional, grind-it-out run control team that gets in trouble if it falls too far behind. Junior Alex Barnes is second in the Big 12 in rushing at 102.0 yards per game with a league-high nine rushing touchdowns and had a career best 250 yards in a 37-34 loss at Baylor on Oct. 6. Quarterback Skylar Thompson has thrown for just 988 yards and five TDs in seven starts and rushing for 359 yards and four more scores while Isaiah Zuber leads the Wildcats with 41 catches for 496 yards and three TDs.

ABOUT TCU (3-5, 1-4): Sophomore Michael Collins, a transfer from Penn, made his first start at quarterback in place of injured starter Shawn Robinson (shoulder) at Kansas and had 384 yards in total offense, passing for 351 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 33 more yards and two more TDs. Junior running back Darius Anderson leads the run game with 482 yards and two TDs on 91 carries, including a 93-yarder against Ohio State that was the longest in school history, but had a key fumble in the final minute at Kansas that cost the Horned Frogs a chance at the win. The defense, which held explosive Texas Tech to just 17 points in a loss, is led by senior defense end Ben Banogu who has a team-best 6.5 sacks to go with 31 tackles.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Patterson, a native of Rozel, Kan., is a 1983 graduate of Kansas State where he played strong safety and outside linebacker for the Wildcats.

2. Kansas State DB Duke Shelley ranks second in the Big 12 and sixth nationally in passes defended (12) and has three interceptions in the last three games.

3. TCU is 38-15 in regular-season games following a loss under Patterson.

PREDICTION: TCU 28, Kansas State 20