Texas Christian @ Baylor preview
Floyd Casey Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 2, 2011 ) Texas Christian 48, Baylor 50
Suspended quarterback Casey Pachall will leave Texas Christian for an inpatient rehab facility and will not play again in 2012, coach Gary Patterson announced Tuesday. So redshirt freshman Trevone Boykin will get his second start when the No. 23 Horned Frogs travel to Baylor on Saturday. The Bears have won nine straight at home, including last year's 50-48 season-opening victory against TCU. Baylor has one of the nation's most prolific offenses, but is still licking its wounds after allowing 807 yards and 70 points in a loss to West Virginia two weeks ago.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN. LINE: Baylor -8.5
ABOUT TEXAS CHRISTIAN (4-1, 1-1 Big 12): Boykin threw for 270 yards and three interceptions in last week's 32-23 loss to Iowa State, which snapped a 12-game win streak and dropped the Horned Frogs 10 spots in the USA Today Poll. The Horned Frogs have won 46 straight when rushing for more yards than passing, but injuries have forced TCU to use young backs. Leading rusher Matthew Tucker's status is uncertain after missing the Iowa State game with an ankle injury. Freshman B.J. Catalon had 86 yards on 13 carries against Iowa State and senior Aundre Dean had 53 yards on 12 carries. Freshman freshman Laderice Sanders added a 1-yard score and Boykin, who practiced with the running backs before Pachall was suspended following an arrest on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, added 39 yards. Freshman defensive end Devonte Fields is tied for the Big 12 lead with 9.5 tackles for loss and is second with 5.5 sacks. The TCU defense, which is 81-2 when allowing less than 17 points and second in the country in third-down defense, will have its hands full with Baylor.
ABOUT BAYLOR (3-1, 0-1): Senior quarterback Nick Florence broke the school's single-game passing record with 581 yards in the loss to West Virginia and the Bear's offense is ranked first in the nation with 416.5 passing yards per game. Its also second in total offense (601.5 yards) and scoring (54.25). Florence leads the country in total offense (434.5 yards) and wide receiver Terrance Williams is first in receiving yards (166.75). Baylor is the only Division I team to score at least 45 points in all of its games this season and owns the nation's longest active streak with eight games with 45 or more points scored. The Baylor defense went back to the basics after the shootout with West Virginia, focusing on tighter coverage of receivers and solid tackling. Linebacker Bryce Hager leads the Big 12 and is second in the country with 13.5 tackles per game.
EXTRA POINTS
1. TCU is 21-6 in regular-season games following a loss under Patterson.
2. The Horned Frogs are 19-2 in their last 21 road games.
3. Baylor has 28 takeaways in its last nine games and an 8-1 record in that span.
PREDICTION: Baylor 45, TCU 30