TCU @ Texas Tech preview
Jones AT&T Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 20, 2012 ) Texas Tech 56, Texas Christian 53
Trevone Boykin replaced Casey Pachall as the starter last season and did just enough to get Texas Christian into a bowl game. He’ll take over at quarterback again Thursday, when the 24th-ranked Horned Frogs open Big 12 play on the road against Texas Tech. Boykin went 3-6 as a freshman in 2012 after Pachall left the team to seek treatment for substance abuse addiction and replaced him again Saturday, when Pachall broke his left arm in a win over Southeastern Louisiana.
Pachall is expected to miss eight weeks, but Boykin threw for a career-high 332 yards and four touchdowns in his third career start against the Red Raiders, who went on the road to upset TCU 56-53 in triple overtime last season. The win turned out to be a high point for Texas Tech, which went on to lose four of its last five regular-season games. The Red Raiders have opened 2-0 for the ninth straight year, averaging 51 points behind walk-on freshman quarterback Baker Mayfield.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: TCU -3.
ABOUT TEXAS CHRISTIAN (1-1): Former Wyoming and current Horned Frog wide receiver Josh Doctson became the first player ever to score a touchdown for and against TCU with a 27-yard TD in Saturday’s win. Defensive end Devonte Fields played the second half after missing the first 1 1/2 games as part of a two-game suspension for an unspecified violation. Fields, who led the Big 12 in tackles for loss last year at 18.5 and was third in sacks with 10, was part of a defensive effort that held the Lions to three second-half points.
ABOUT TEXAS TECH (2-0): With presumed starter Michael Brewer dealing with a back issue, Mayfield - believed to be the first freshman walk-on to start a season opener for a BCS program - leads the Big 12 in total offense, passing yards and passing touchdowns. Brewer is expected to visit a back specialist this week to see if he can return to practice, but Mayfield and fellow first-year quarterback Davis Webb have combined to complete 70.1 percent of their passes for 907 yards and eight TDs. Mayfield also has rushed for a team-high 82 yards.
EXTRA POINTS
1. TCU’s 24-5 record in road and neutral-site games since 2009 is the third-best mark in the nation.
2. Texas Tech has dropped its last three conference home openers, each to a ranked opponent.
3. In Saturday’s win, Boykin became the only quarterback in TCU history to lead the team in passing yards (133) and receptions (three) in the same game.
PREDICTION: Texas Christian 38, Texas Tech 35