No. 4 TCU (7-0, 4-0 Big 12) at No. 25 Iowa State (5-2, 3-1), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN2). Line: TCU by 6 ½. Series record: TCU leads 7-1. WHAT’S AT STAKE A TCU loss would leave the Big 12
No. 4 TCU (7-0, 4-0 Big 12) at No. 25 Iowa State (5-2, 3-1), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN2).
Line: TCU by 6 ½.
Series record: TCU leads 7-1.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
A TCU loss would leave the Big 12 without an unbeaten team heading into November and put Iowa State team into a tie for first place. A loss by the Cyclones could send them out of the Top 25 after just one week.
KEY MATCHUP
TCU QB Kenny Hill vs. Iowa State’s secondary. Hill has been the biggest reason why TCU’s offense has come to life in 2017. But Iowa State’s defense has allowed just 61 points in four league games — matching TCU for first in the Big 12 — and its secondary has playmakers everywhere.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
TCU. RB Darius Anderson. He is averaging 5.8 yards per carry and has six touchdowns in seven games. If the Horned Frogs can get Anderson going, Hill should have the space he’ll need to make plays in the passing game.
Iowa State: QB/LB Joel Lanning. The nation’s top two-way player has 78 tackles, six tackles for loss and 2 ½ sacks — and he’s getting better every week after making the transition from quarterback in the offseason.
FACTS & FIGURES
TCU is 3-0 against Iowa State in Ames. …The weather is supposed to be nasty, with temperatures in the upper 30s, wind gusts approaching 30 MPH and even a chance for some snow showers. …This matchup, arguably the biggest in the Big 12 this week, will be between teams picked fifth (TCU) and ninth (Iowa State) in the preseason poll.
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