The TCU Horned Frogs will host Texas Tech on Saturday, looking to keep their Big 12 and playoff hopes alive. They'll host a Red Raider team that would appear to be overmatched, but is perfectly capable of lighting up the scoreboard when given the chance.
How to watch Texas Tech vs. TCU: Game time, TV and streaming schedule, odds
Can the Red Raiders pull off an improbable upset over the Horned Frogs?
Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Spo
TCU is fresh off a 42-9 steamrolling of Oklahoma State last Saturday, and appears to have put the Baylor loss gutpunch behind them. The Frog offense, led by Trevone Boykin, has hit really hit its stride this season, putting up over 45 points a game and ranking fifth in the entire country. They should be licking their chops to get on the field against Texas Tech's defense, which is one of the worst defenses in the country by virtually any statistical measure.
Texas Tech is just trying to get through the season at this point. They were able to break a four game losing streak this past weekend by beating Kansas, but barring at least one, probably two significant upsets, they will not be going to a bowl this year. The offense under first year head coach Kliff Kingsbury has put up points and moved the ball at nearly 500 yards per game, but chances seem slim of them reaching their season averages against TCU’s imposing defense, especially without wide receiver Jakeem Grant.
Can the Red Raiders pull off the upset? It seems unlikely, but hey, it’s the Big 12.
How to watch, listen, and stream
Game time: 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Radio: Texas Tech | TCU
Online streaming: Fox Sports GO
Our blogs on these teams
The numbers
Rankings and records: TCU enters the game at 5-1 and a game behind Kansas State for first place in the Big 12, and is ranked 10th in both the AP Top 25 and the USA Today Coaches Poll. Texas Tech is 3-4 and unranked.
Vegas: TCU opened as a 20-point favorite, and that line has already moved up to -21.
Weather forecast: Sunny with a high of 83.
Two things at stake
For TCU: Keeping pace in Big 12 and playoff races.
The Horned Frogs put themselves behind the eight ball by letting the Baylor game slip through their fingers, but they are not out of the conversation for both the Big 12 and the College Football Playoff. However, they now have zero margin for error. For all of Texas Tech’s faults, they can still score points, so switching off with a lead in the fourth quarter is a recipe for disaster.
For Texas Tech: Building program momentum.
It’s been a rough year one for Kingsbury and the Red Raiders. However, they can put much better face on this season if they can wreck a conference contender’s season. Kingsbury was never going to get into hot water after one year, but a signature win the program can hang its hat on would go a long way towards keeping fans happy while he builds things back up.
One big matchup
TCU defense vs. Texas Tech offense
When you consider the statistical profile of these two teams, it's fairly safe to assume that TCU is going to score points against Texas Tech's defense. The question is whether Tech's offense can continue to roll up points against the very good and very nasty Horned Frog defense. Davis Webb should be under consistent pressure, and he's been shown a proclivity for doling out turnovers in bunches to go with the touchdowns (22 touchdowns to 12 interceptions).
Further reading
For more on the Red Raiders, check out Viva The Matadors. For more on TCU, head over to Frogs O’ War.
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