K-State Wildcats vs. TCU Horned Frogs: Score prediction, betting line, TV, time
THE DETAILS
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth
TV: FS1
Radio: KCSP (610 AM) in Kansas City, KKGQ (92.3 FM) in WIchita
The line: TCU by 3 1/2 with an over/under points total of 53.5
Prediction
It’s not hyperbole to describe this matchup of Top 25 teams as one of the biggest games in recent Kansas State history.
The Wildcats haven’t been ranked at the same time as their opponent since they played UCLA in the Alamo Bowl at the end of the 2014 season. Furthermore, a win over TCU would vault K-State into sole possession of first place in the Big 12 standings.
Much will be on the line on Saturday inside Amon G. Carter Stadium. It’s fitting that this game is more or less a toss up.
TCU has the best offense in the Big 12, averaging 45.8 points and 526.7 yards per game behind star quarterback Max Duggan and electric wide receiver Quentin Johnston.
K-State owns one of the best defenses in the conference, allowing an average of 16.7 points and 354.5 yards per game thanks to playmakers like defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah and safety Kobe Savage.
It will be interesting to see who wins this battle of contrasting styles.
If TCU can continue to hit explosive plays on offense like it has all season during its 6-0 start, it will be hard for the Wildcats to keep up. But if K-State can play from ahead and force the Horned Frogs into more punts than they are accustomed to then TCU may struggle to adapt.
K-State has only faced one other elite offense this year, at Oklahoma. The Wildcats won that game, but the Sooners still managed to put up 550 yards and 34 points. I don’t see K-State winning this game in shootout fashion, but it might not have to. The Wildcats have already been through a game like this and can learn from their previous experience.
TCU will not be so fortunate. The Horned Frogs have yet to face a quality defense this season. Expect K-State to hold them beow their scoring average, especially after defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman had two weeks to prepare for this game. One more thing to consider: Anudike-Uzomah had a field day against TCU last season, finishing that game with four sacks.
This situation also seems to favor K-State. The Wildcats are refreshed and coming off an open week. The Horned Frogs have played grueling games against SMU, Oklahoma, Kansas and Oklahoma State over the past four weeks. Do they have enough left in the tank to win five huge games in five weeks?
I would favor TCU in a three-game series. But I Iike K-State to win by a slim margin on Saturday.
Kansas State 28, TCU 27.
Last game prediction: Iowa State 24, Kansas State 23.
2022 record on picks: 3-3.
2022 record vs. spread: 3-3.
2022 record vs. O/U points total: 4-2.
This story was originally published October 21, 2022 at 9:40 AM with the headline "K-State Wildcats vs. TCU Horned Frogs: Score prediction, betting line, TV, time."