OSU Football: TCU Preview

Winners of six-straight, No. 11 Oklahoma State has one more hurdle before a Big 12 title-deciding Bedlam. That hurdle is the reinvigorated TCU Horned Frogs and the test takes place Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. CT in Amon G. Carter Stadium.

The Cowboys (8-2, 6-1) have only lost once to TCU since the Frogs joined the Big 12 in 2012, falling 42-9 in 2014. Last year’s meeting saw OSU take down an unbeaten No. 8 TCU team in dominating fashion. The Pokes led 28-9 at half on the way to a 49-29 victory.

Mason Rudolph threw for 352 yards and five touchdowns and James Washington tallied 184 yards receiving and three scores in last year’s matchup and the two have been rather synchronized lately, too. Washington has surpassed 100 receiving yards in three-consecutive games and Rudolph is averaging 375 passing yards per game in that span.

While the offense has been humming, the defense has done just enough to get by. After giving up 345 rushing yards to Kansas State two weeks ago in a game that came down to the last play, OSU held Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes 50 passing yards below his average but escaped with a 45-44 win after the Red Raiders missed an extra-point.

TCU (5-4, 3-3) comes off a bye week, though the Frogs appeared to be back on track the week before with a 62-22 shellacking of Baylor. Running back Kyle Hicks rushed for 192 yards and five touchdowns against the Bears.

Hicks will be the focal point for the Cowboys as TCU’s passing game hasn’t looked great under junior quarterback Kenny Hill, who leads the Big 12 in interceptions.

OSU Player To Watch – Chris Lacy looked like a monster last week against Tech with four catches for 100 yards. He and the entire receiving corps should have good matchups against the Horned Frog secondary.

TCU Player To Watch – Kyle Hicks is the man. Now that he’s back to 100 percent health, Hicks could have a day against OSU’s rush defense that gives up 196.7 yards per game on the ground.

Prediction – Oklahoma State wins close, 45-38.