TCU kept its Big 12 title hopes alive with a narrow victory over Kansas on Saturday. The Horned Frogs bucked the absence of the injured Trevone Boykin, producing two scoring drives in the final quarter to hold off the winless Jayhawks. They will look to sustain the momentum of that huge win when they take on the red-hot Oklahoma Sooners this coming Saturday in what is essentially a make-or-break contest for both sides.
Who will grab the edge in this all-important Big 12 showdown? Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of this pivotal matchup and while you’re at it, you can check out our previews of Mississippi State vs. Arkansas and Michigan State vs. Ohio State.
[sc:NCAAFArticles ]TCU Horned Frogs vs. Oklahoma Sooners Preview
Where: Memorial Stadium, Norman
When: Saturday, November 21
Line: TCU Horned Frogs at Oklahoma Sooners – view all NCAA Football lines
Betting on the TCU Horned Frogs (9-1, 6-1 Big 12)
The TCU Horned Frogs returned to winning ways Saturday with a gritty 23-17 victory over the Kansas Jayhawks at Amon G. Carter Stadium. It was a crucial bounce-back victory for the reigning Big 12 champions who suffered a humiliating 49-29 defeat to leaders Oklahoma State the previous weekend. With the win, the Horned Frogs improved their overall record this season to 9-1 and in the process keep their playoff dreams alive.
[sc:NCAA240banner ]The victory came at a huge cost, though, for the Horned Frogs as they lost star quarterback Trevone Boykin to injury in this game. The Heisman Trophy candidate injured his ankle early in the contest and didn’t return after getting sacked on TCU’s last offensive play of the first quarter. It was a bitter blow for Boykin whose school-record streak of 24 straight games with a touchdown pass, tied for longest in the nation, ended with his early exit against Kansas.
The Horned Frogs have been pretty unlucky with injuries of late, with standout receiver Josh Doctson suffering left arm and wrist damage in last week’s game against Oklahoma State. He was ineffective Saturday against Kansas, posting season-lows with one catch for 12 yards. With their top two offensive stalwarts hampered by injuries, TCU’s task became even tougher for their next game against Oklahoma.
For the Horned Frogs to defeat the streaking Sooners, they will need their defense to step up big time once again. They held Kansas to just 324 total yards on Saturday. TCU’s pass rush was superb, in particular, nabbing three sacks against the Jayhawks. The Horned Frogs have now recorded at least one sack in 27 consecutive games, breaking the school record of 26 set from 2007-09. They will need that same kind of defensive intensity to frustrate an Oklahoma team that’s averaging 545.4 yards in the total offense department this season.
The Horned Frogs are 4-1 SU and 1-4 ATS on the road this season.
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Betting on the Oklahoma Sooners (9-1, 6-1 Big 12)
The Oklahoma Sooners will head to their showdown with the TCU Horned Frogs with momentum on their side after trouncing the previously unbeaten Baylor Bears, 44-34, on Saturday. It was another impressive victory for the Sooners who ended not only the Bears’ 20-game winning streak but also quite possibly their playoff chances.
Key to Oklahoma’s resurgence has been their phenomenal offense. The Sooners are averaging a whopping 55.2 points during their current five-game winning run. To no one’s surprise, it was quarterback Baker Mayfield who led the way for the Sooners in their victory against the Bears. He completed 24 of 34 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. He also ran for another score in this game.
Sterling Shepard was Mayfield’s favorite target on the night, catching 14 passes for 177 yards and a pair of touchdowns. This was just the senior wide receiver’s second double-digit reception game this year. The Sooners have been deadly with their passing game this season, already recording 30 touchdowns through the air this year.
Apart from their passing offense, the Sooners’ defense also took center stage in the win against the Bears. They stifled one of the nation’s best offenses, forcing Baylor to commit three costly turnovers. The Sooners also limited the Bears’ vaunted ground game, holding Baylor to a measly 159 rushing yards. That’s quite a feat for Oklahoma considering Baylor was averaging 308.9 yards per game on the ground prior to the contest.
It’s important for the Sooners that their defensive line step up again this coming weekend for them to extend their winning run against the Horned Frogs. They will need to put the clamps on running back Aaron Green who’s expected to carry a much heavier scoring load for TCU now that Boykin and Doctson are both out injured. The redshirt senior rushed for 177 yards on a career-high 30 carries in TCU’s win against Kansas on Saturday.
The Sooners are 3-1 SU and 2-2 ATS in their last four meetings with the Horned Frogs.
Writer’s Prediction
Oklahoma keeps the momentum going with a comprehensive 45-27 victory.
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