Texas Christian @ West Virginia preview

After a victory at Texas on Oct. 6, West Virginia was unbeaten and had a Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback putting up outrageous numbers. But since, the No. 19 Mountaineers and signal-caller Geno Smith have fallen on hard times, dropping two straight games by a combined 114-28. They will look to get back in the win column Saturday when they host Texas Christian, which has also lost two straight following a 5-1 start. The schools will be meeting for the first time as Big 12 foes, both having joined the league this year. Their only prior encounter was in the 1984 Bluebonnet Bowl, which West Virginia won 31-14.

TV: 3 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: West Virginia -6.5

ABOUT TCU (5-3, 2-3 Big 12): The Horned Frogs held a 14-0 lead at Oklahoma State last Saturday before allowing 36 unanswered points. They committed 10 penalties and had three turnovers as TCU was held to less than 20 points for the first time since the 2010 Fiesta Bowl, a string of 33 games. That was the longest such streak in the country. Trevone Boykin became the first Horned Frogs quarterback to throw four touchdown passes in back-to-back games when he did it against Baylor on Oct. 13 and Texas Tech seven days later. Boykin was limited to 185 yards and only one TD in the loss to the Cowboys.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA (5-2, 2-2): Smith had 24 touchdowns and no interceptions through his first five games, but has two of each in the last two contests. His 143 passing yards in a 55-14 loss to Kansas State two weeks ago represents his lowest total since Nov. 20, 2010, at Louisville. The senior has not received much help from the defense, which has given up 1,155 total yards in the last two games, including 841 through the air. The Mountaineers are ranked last among FBS teams in passing defense. They allow an average of more than 360 passing yards per game.

EXTRA POINTS

1. West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen was the offensive coordinator at Texas Tech in 2006 when the Red Raiders were held to only three points in a loss to Gary Patterson's TCU team.

2. The Horned Frogs are 20-3 in their last 23 road games.

3. Smith needs 409 total yards to surpass Pat White as the Mountaineers all-time total offense leader.

PREDICTION: West Virginia 31, Texas Christian 24