Texas Christian @ Kansas preview
Memorial Stadium
Texas Christian created waves when it shifted its allegiance to the Big 12. On Saturday, the No. 15 Horned Frogs will take their nation-best nine-game winning streak into Kansas as they attempt to take their first step in showing that they belong in the new conference. That step may be in name only, however, as the struggling Jayhawks have lost 12 consecutive conference games and have seen their beleaguered defense yield 400-plus yards in both contests in 2012. Texas Christian is likely licking its chops after amassing 531 yards of total offense in last week's season-opening 56-0 triumph over FCS-member Grambling State. First-year Jayhawks coach Charlie Weis was not as fortunate last week as his club failed to hold a double-digit fourth-quarter lead en route to a 25-24 home loss to Rice.
TV: 12 p.m. ET, FX. LINE: TCU -21
ABOUT TEXAS CHRISTIAN (1-0, 0-0 Big 12): The Horned Frogs were certainly not slowed by using 12 true freshmen in last week's victory. In fact, punt returner Deante' Gray was named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week after setting a 65-year-old school record with 160 punt return yards. Casey Pachall, who took the helm at quarterback in 2011 following Andy Dalton's departure to the NFL, completed all nine of his passes last week before taking a seat in the lopsided victory. Gary Patterson won his 110th career game last week to become the school's all-time winningest coach.
ABOUT KANSAS (1-1, 0-0 Big 12): The schedule gets significantly tougher for Weis and Co., as they face four ranked teams within a six-game stretch. Kansas needs to see better play from Notre Dame transfer quarterback Dayne Crist, who completed 16 of 28 passes for 144 yards with two interceptions last week. Crist will have a chance to atone against an inexperienced Horned Frogs' defense. The Jayhawks could also benefit from utilizing running backs Tony Pierson and Taylor Cox, who are both averaging more than six yards per carry this season. Kansas rolled up 195 yards on the ground last week and could use this weapon to both control the clock and keep Texas Christian's high-octane offense on the sideline.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Texas Christian has won 24 consecutive conference games, albeit all in the Mountain West.
2. Kansas' defense has been more opportunistic than last season, forcing eight turnovers in its first two games after collecting 18 in 2011.
3. The Horned Frogs have dropped the last three meetings, although the last contest - a 17-10 setback - was on Sept. 6, 1997.
PREDICTION: TCU 35, Kansas 14