Texas Tech-TCU: How They Match Up
Texas Tech will try to dash seventh-ranked TCU's College Football Playoff dream when the two teams meet at 11 a.m. Saturday at Amon Carter Stadium in Fort Worth.
TCU (8-0, 5-0 in the Big 12) is an 8 1/2-point favorite. Tech (4-4, 2-3), when facing ranked opponents on the road, has lost nine in a row and 17 of its past 18, the streak interrupted by the Red Raiders' 41-17 victory at No. 15 Oklahoma State in 2018.
Since springing a 41-38 upset at No. 3 Oklahoma in 2011, Tech has lost seven in a row against top-10 teams on the road.
Here's a look at how the Red Raiders and the Horned Frogs match up:
When Tech runs
Tech RBs SaRodorick Thompson (89 carries, 435 rushing yards, three touchdowns) and Tahj Brooks (86-420-6) are on a 13-game pace for 707 and 686 yards, respectively, if the Red Raiders make a bowl game. That's ahead of last year's pace, when Brooks finished with 568 yards and Thompson with 500. A good day from them could help minimize the number of snaps the Tech defense has to face the explosive TCU offense. The Horned Frogs are middle of the pack in the Big 12 and the FBS against the run. TCU's gotten a team-high 47 tackles apiece from LBs Jamoi Hodge and Johnny Hodges (transfer from Navy) and SS Mark Perry (transfer from Colorado). Hodge made a career-high 13 tackles with two tackles for loss and a sack last week. Thompson, with the advantage of playing in his fifth season, continues to climb the Tech all-time charts, to 10th in career rushing yards (2,415) and to tied for fourth in career rushing TDs with Ricky Williams (36). Advantage: TCU
When Tech passes
Tech QB Behren Morton, coming off the worst of his three starts, will look for leading receiver Xavier White (33-454-3) and a group of former Metroplex high-school players who'll try to show out in front of friends and family: Myles Price from The Colony, Jerand Bradley from DeSoto, Trey Cleveland from Arlington, Brady Boyd from Southlake Carroll and Baylor Cupp from Brock. Morton has to keep an eye out for TCU CB Bud Clark, who has a three-game streak of interceptions, and SLB Dee Winters (team highs 7 TFL and 4 1/2 sacks). Tech's 30 sacks allowed is tied for most among power-five teams, the Red Raiders having given up six to two opponents and four to three others. Even with highly regarded CB Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU's pass defense is 104th in the FBS. The Horned Frogs also rank low in sacks and tackles for loss. Advantage: Even
When TCU runs
TCU RB Kendre Miller (132-851-11) is right behind Texas' Bijon Robinson and Kansas State's Deuce Vaughn at the top of the Big 12 rushing chart. The Red Raiders know all about Miller, who carried 12 times for 185 yards and three TDs last year in a 52-31 TCU victory in Lubbock. The 220-pound junior has a nine-game streak of rushing touchdowns, five 100-yard performances in his past six games and a career average of 6.9 yards per carry, best among active FBS players. Speedy QB Max Duggan also has had two big rushing games against the Red Raiders: 18 carries, 75 yards and a touchdown three years ago in Lubbock and 19 carries for 154 yards and three TDs two years ago in Fort Worth. Baylor's Richard Reese gashed Tech for 148 yards and three TDs on 36 carries last week. It was the fourth 100-yard performance by a Big 12 player against the Red Raiders, who, in conference games only, now are next to last in the Big 12 in rushing yards allowed per game (187.0) and yards per carry (4.8). Field-side LB Krishon Merriweather still ranks among the Big 12 leaders with 67 tackles. Advantage: TCU
When TCU passes
Some of the game's best matchups could come on the outside, where tall Tech CBs Malik Dunlap and Rayshad Williams try to contain 6-4 WR Quentin Johnston (42-650-4). Dunlap and Williams are among the Big 12 leaders in pass breakups with nine and eight, respectively. Duggan also gets the ball to speedy slot receivers Derius Davis (25-349-4) and Taye Barber (20-388-3), lanky outside WR Savion Williams (17-241-3) and 6-7 TE Jared Wiley (12-136-4). Twice this season, Barber has scored on plays longer than 70 yards, including last week at West Virginia. One of Tech's best weapons is DE Tyree Wilson (11 1/2 tackles for loss, 6 1/2 sacks), but TCU has one of the Big 12's most accomplished and experienced offensive lines, led by All-Big 12 OG Steve Avila. Advantage: TCU
Special teams
Big 12 coverage units are challenged by some of the country's best return men on a near weekly basis, TCU's Derius Davis being the latest Tech has to contain. Davis has five career special-teams touchdown, four by punt return and one by kickoff return. He hurt the Red Raiders two years ago in Fort Worth with punt returns of 17, 16, 20 and 50 yards. Tech P Austin McNamara, with a 44.4-yard average, is up to second in the Big 12 and the the Red Raiders are third in net punting. TCU P Jordy Sandy is last in the conference with a 39.6-yard average, but the Horned Frogs worry less about distance than controlling the return game. Thanks to Sandy's hang time and directional punting, opponents have yet to return a punt against them this season. Both teams can call on a solid kicker, TCU's Griffin Kell being 8 for 8 on field goals and Tech's Trey Wolff good on 11 of 14 with no misses inside 40 yards. Advantage: TCU
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech-TCU: How They Match Up
