[12:05 PM] Kansas State @ TCU

Who will WIN this matchup?

Kansas State Wildcats (7-4)

@ TCU Horned Frogs (6-5)

 

• The line for this game is TCU by 3.5 points.

• Despite being stuck in a conference that has become increasingly known for prolific offenses and shootouts, Kansas State and TCU have managed to stay relevant with consistently good defense. The Horned Frogs eye their third straight win in this series Saturday when they host the Wildcats in a battle between the top two defenses in the Big 12.

• Alex Barnes burst onto the scene with 129 yards rushing and a school-freshman record four rushing touchdowns at Baylor and followed it with a 103 more yards and another score versus the Jayhawks. The Wildcats don’t ask Jesse Ertz to do much as a passer – his 1,401 yards through the air ranks ninth in the 10-team conference – but the junior ranks eighth in the league with 775 yards rushing – easily the most among league quarterbacks. Junior linebacker Elijah Lee leads the team and ranks third in the Big 12 with 8.2 tackles per game, while senior defensive lineman Jordan Willis paces the conference in sacks (10.5) and ranks second in tackles for loss (15).

• Running back Kyle Hicks leads the Horned Frogs in rushing (894) and receptions (40) – one of four players nationally to lead his team in both categories – but has been mostly bottled up in three of his last four games, with his 195-yard, five-touchdown explosion against Baylor serving as the one exception. Ty Summers was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season after recording his second straight 14-tackle game last week and ranks second in the conference with 105. Fellow linebacker Travin Howard paces the league with 110 tackles and became the first Horned Frog to record consecutive 100-tackle seasons since Martin Patterson in 2003-04 with 11 stops versus the Longhorns.

• Gary Patterson will coach his 202nd game at TCU this Saturday against his alma mater, moving him past Dutch Meyer (1934-52) for the most in school history.

• The Wildcats have rushed for 200 or more yards in five straight Big 12 games – their longest such streak since 2003.

• Last season’s 52-45 victory, in which the Horned Frogs rallied from an 18-point halftime deficit, equaled the largest come-from-behind win in Patterson’s career.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: TCU Horned Frogs

Confidence: 4/10

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