No. 17 Texas Tech at No. 23 TCU – Game Preview

No. 17 Texas Tech at No. 23 TCU – Game Preview

No. 17 Texas Tech (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) at No. 23 TCU (5-1, 2-1 Big 12)

Amon G. Carter Stadium (Capacity:  50,000)

Saturday, October 20^th at 2:30pm

TV: ABC/ESPN2

Last meeting: September 16, 2006 in Fort Worth. TCU defeated Texas Tech 12-3.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders travel to renew a rivalry with former Southwest Conference foe, the TCU Horned Frogs, this Saturday in Fort Worth.

Last time on the field, the Red Raiders trounced then No. 5 West Virginia 49-14 in Lubbock while the Horned Frogs defeated Baylor in Waco 49-21. Both teams are tied for second in the Big 12 Conference and a victory will be important for bowl positioning in the league which could have as many as nine teams qualify for bowls.

Texas Tech

Statistical Leaders

Passing: Seth Doege, 159 of 225, 1891 yards, 21 TD, 7 INT

Rushing: Kenny Williams, 62 carries for 376 yards, 2 TD

Receiving: Jace Amaro, 23 catches for 394 yards, 4 TD

The Red Raiders bounced back from a 41-20 drubbing from Oklahoma the week before and shutdown the high octane West Virginia offense to 14 points in the 49-14 victory for Texas Tech. The game was costly as Tech lost receivers Javon Bell and Bradley Marquez to season ending injuries. Tight End Jace Amaro is questionable for the game this week suffering from an undisclosed injury.

The Red Raider defense kept West Virginia to 14 points and 405 yards of total offense and will try to contain redshirt Freshman Quarterback Trevone Boykin who can throw and run with the ball effectively. Boykin threw for 261 yards with 4 scores and rushed for 56 yards and another score against Baylor last Saturday.

Head Coach Tommy Tuberville said earlier this week about the game,

“TCU has done a great job.  Gary Patterson has built one of the strongest programs in college football in the last ten, 12 years, so they know how to play.  They know how to win games, they know how to win big games, but for us and for them it will be another Big 12 game.  We'll go play, and then we'll regroup whatever happens and do the same thing, go to the next week.”

Tuberville has never faced Gary Patterson or TCU in his head coaching career. The Red Raiders and Horned Frogs were slated to face each other in September of 2010, but ABC had Tech and Texas play the same date, so Tech dropped TCU from the schedule.

TCU

The Horned Frogs seemed lost on Offense for most of the season and losing QB Casey Pachall for the season due to off the field issues. In his place is Trevone Boykin who is 1-1 as a starter and was able to throw four touchdowns against Baylor, which has the worst defense in the country ranked at 120^th out of 120 teams. TCU is ranked 45^th in total offense with 429 yards per game and 33.17 points per game.

TCU has forced 20 turnovers in the first half of the season with 6 fumbles and 14 interceptions, but 9 of those interceptions coming in two games this season. TCU is 16^th in the country on total defense, but hasn’t faced an offense the caliber of the Red Raiders. Tech has the 10^th ranked offense at 537 yards per game and 40.67 points per game.