Texas Tech @ TCU preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 12, 2013 ) Texas Christian 10, Texas Tech 20

Tenth-ranked Texas Christian rebounded nicely from its first loss of the season with a rout of Oklahoma State but still has West Virginia and Kansas State in the coming weeks, but the Horned Frogs can't afford to look past this week's opponent in Texas Tech. The Red Raiders come to Fort Worth with just one Big 12 victory — last week over Kansas — though Tech fell by just 10 to OSU and three to West Virginia. TCU is known as a high-scoring unit — averaging 45.2 points — but the Horned Frogs also have the best scoring defense in the Big 12, allowing 20.7 points a contest.

This game will feature two of the top three passing quarterbacks in the conference in Texas Tech's Davis Webb (319.9 yards per game, 22 TDs) and TCU's Trevone Boykin (312.2, 14 TDs). But both teams are also potent on the ground, with the Red Raiders' DeAndre Washington ranking third in the league with 88.9 yards per game while the Frogs' team average of 197.5 is second in the Big 12. Tech may look to the ground game more depending on the availability of leading receiver Jakeem Grant, who suffered a laceration from a shooting over the weekend.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: TCU -22.5.

ABOUT TEXAS TECH (3-4, 1-3 Big 12): Facing a number of pass-happy opponents in the Big 12, Texas Tech is trying to get more of a pass rush, switching linebackers Andre Ross and Pete Robertson to defensive ends and moving defensive end Branden Jackson to defensive tackle at times. The move has worked and will likely be used more against TCU, especially after Robertson had two sacks and two quarterback pressures in the win over Kansas and Jackson has garnered praise for his play as well. “He's affecting that quarterback,” Raiders defensive coordinator Mike Smith told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal about Jackson. “A lot of people look at stats, see Pete has seven or eight sacks and think he must be playing the best. Well, I tell you what, B-Jack's gotten after the quarterback, forced the quarterback to scramble and throw the ball quick.”

ABOUT TCU (5-1, 2-1): With the first College Football Playoff rankings due to be released next week, the Horned Frogs would seem to have a vested interest in them, considering their No. 10 national ranking. But, for now at least, TCU is more worried about what it does on the field rather than where it ranks in any poll, knowing success in one area will lead to success in the other. “I don't know what those guys are looking for, and it's really not my job to determine how you have to win,” Frogs safety Sam Carter told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “I just know if you win by one, a win is a win; it doesn't matter how you win. It doesn't matter how you win as long as you win.”

EXTRA POINTS

1. Webb has thrown at least one touchdown pass in the first 17 games of his career, a school record for a Texas Tech quarterback.

2. TCU has opened each game this season with a lead of at least 14-0, scoring touchdowns on its opening possession in five of six contests.

3. The Red Raiders lead the all-time series 30-23-3 and have won both of the teams' matchups as members of the Big 12.

PREDICTION: TCU 42, Texas Tech 24