TCU @ Kansas State preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 8, 2014 ) Kansas State 20, Texas Christian 41

Second-ranked TCU has cranked up the offensive fireworks and looks to remain unbeaten when it visits Kansas State on Saturday in Big 12 play. The Horned Frogs, who have won 13 consecutive games dating back to last season, have scored 50 or more points and topped 600 offensive yards in each of their past four games.

Only defending national champion Ohio State (18) has a longer winning streak than the Horned Frogs, who are trying to temper expectations that they are rolling toward a spot in the four-team College Football Playoff. "I'm not trying to be a playoff team just yet, I'm trying to win the next ball game," coach Gary Patterson said on the Big 12 coaches conference call. "I just want to win game six. I'm not going to lose perspective. I was the guy that got left out last year, so right now that can't be the final goal." Kansas State has struggled to keep its quarterbacks healthy and is expecting junior Joe Hubener to start despite the fact he took a head-to-head hit in last Saturday's loss to Oklahoma State while converted senior receiver Kody Cook - the fifth-string option - is questionable after injuring his shoulder against the Cowboys. “It has really been a wild roller coaster ride for the quarterback position," Hubener said at a press conference. "It is really a testament to the guys that we have because Kody is as good of an athlete as anybody."

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: TCU -9.

ABOUT TCU (5-0, 2-0 Big 12): Senior quarterback Trevone Boykin has been superb with 1,802 yards and 19 touchdowns and he has thrown 74 career scoring passes to break the school record set by current Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (71, 2007-10). Senior receiver Josh Doctson has caught two or more scoring passes in each of the past three games and has season totals of 42 receptions, 722 yards and eight touchdowns, while freshman wideout KaVontae Turpin has six touchdown receptions, four coming last Saturday when he had six receptions for 138 yards in a 50-7 beat down against Texas. Senior defensive end Terrell Lathan (shoulder) is slated to return after a two-game absence while freshman linebacker Montrel Wilson has a team-high 37 tackles and sophomore linebacker Travin Howard has 36 stops, including a team-best five for losses.

ABOUT KANSAS STATE (3-1, 0-1): Sophomore Jesse Ertz was the opening-game starting quarterback but suffered a season-ending knee injury on the first snap of the season and Hubener eventually got his chance and has passed for 670 yards and four touchdowns. Redshirt freshman running back Justin Silmon has a team-best 260 yards on the ground while redshirt freshman wideout Dominique Heath has a team-leading 11 receptions for 170 yards. Sophomore linebacker Elijah Lee has a team-best 27 tackles while defensive end Jordan Willis has accumulated a team-high 6.5 tackles for losses.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The teams have split eight previous meetings with TCU posting a 41-20 victory last season.

2. Horned Frogs RB Aaron Green (team-high 504 yards) rushed for a career-best 171 yards in last season's victory over the Wildcats.

3. Kansas State senior Morgan Burns is averaging 33.7 yards on kickoff returns, including a 100-yard touchdown.

PREDICTION: TCU 48, Kansas State 31