Texas Christian @ Oklahoma State preview
Boone Pickens Stadium
Texas Christian and Oklahoma State have both replaced starting quarterbacks this season and the Cowboys will have to do it again this week when they host the Horned Frogs on Saturday. Redshirt freshman J.W. Walsh will likely miss the rest of the season after throwing for a career-high 415 yards against Iowa State last week. Walsh, filling in for injured freshman Wes Lunt, injured his knee early in the game but played through the pain to lead Oklahoma State to a 31-10 victory. TCU has one of the nation's toughest defenses and will face the team that leads the country in total offense with 605.3 yards per game. The Horned Frogs are 3-0 on the road this season and have 12 takeaways in the past two away games.
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, FSN. LINE: Oklahoma State -7.5
ABOUT TEXAS CHRISTIAN (5-2, 2-2 Big 12): Gary Patterson's young team, which has tied the national lead by playing 16 freshmen and a combined 28 including redshirts, is coming off a 56-53, triple-overtime loss to Texas Tech. Redshirt freshman Trevone Boykin became the first TCU quarterback with four touchdown passes in back-to-back games and had a career-high 332 yards against Texas Tech. He went 7-of-9 for 122 yards in the final four minutes as TCU rallied from a 10-point deficit to force overtime. Freshman B.J. Catalon leads an injury-depleted running game with 319 yards. Freshman Devonte Fields leads the Big 12 with 14 tackles for loss and eight sacks and is ranked in the top 10 nationally in both categories. TCU is ranked in the top 10 nationally in five defensive categories - interceptions (14), third-down defense (26.4 percent), rushing defense (92 yards per game), first downs allowed (15.6) and turnovers gained (20). But the Horned Frogs have allowed seven passing touchdowns of at least 25 yards in the past three weeks.
ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE (4-2, 2-1): Mike Gundy said Lunt, who hasn't played since injuring his left knee on Sept. 15, and junior Clint Chelf split time in practice. Lunt started the first three games and went 51-of-75 for 588 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. Chelf, the backup last year, is 4-of-8 for 51 yards with one score and one interception in 2012. Junior running back Joseph Randle leads the Big 12 with 127.5 yards per game and is averaging 5.98 yards per carry. Junior Charlie Moore had a career-high 129 yards receiving last week, giving Oklahoma State a school-record four different players with 100-yard games. The Cowboys are giving up 365.8 yards per game but have allowed just 24 total points their past two games. Senior Quinn Sharp is averaging 48 yards per punt and Oklahoma State is second in the country with an average net of 43.53 yards. The Cowboys lead the series 11-9-2, but the teams have split seven meetings (3-3-1) since 1950.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Oklahoma State has had at least one scoring drive last less than two minutes in 33 straight games and has 24 such drives this season.
2. TCU (33 games) and Oklahoma State (32) are first and second in the nation for the longest active streak of scoring at least 20 points.
3. TCU leads the country in time of possession, averaging 34 minutes, 32 seconds. The Horned Frogs have won 61 of their last 66 games when leading in time of possession.
PREDICTION: Oklahoma State 28, TCU 24