Intriguing Game– NCAA Football, Week Eight
(17) Kansas State Wildcats at (8) TCU Horned Frogs
Kansas State: You could label them as an outsider in their conference. Think about it. With all the other teams that play in the Big-12 such as Baylor, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Kansas, what do all those teams I named all have in common? They each have that high-flying offense that can change the dynamic of the football game. That’s not Head Coach Chris Kileman’s identity. This is a group that likes to chew up the clock and win the possession battle. In other words, making every opportunity with the football count. Since week four, Adrian Martinez has emerged strongly and has been one of the most impressive players in the Big-12. What’s impressed me has been how he’s taking care of the football. Something he struggled to do when he was at Nebraska. Adrian has yet to turn the ball over this season and that’s why these Wildcats have been so successful on the year so far. They control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the football, they take care of the ball as I mentioned up top and they can play some defense. That all sounds like a recipe for success if you ask me, right? On Saturday, they’ll make a trip to Fort Worth to battle a hungry Horned Frogs team.
TCU: After they beat the Oklahoma Sooners, they grabbed my attention. I watched more of them when they played the Kansas Jayhawks a few weeks back. They’re for real. I’d go as far as to say they’re the best team in the Big-12 this season, especially with the usual powerhouses struggling (Oklahoma, Baylor, Etc). This Horned Frogs team is one of the more balanced teams in the nation. Their offense is explosive, yet balanced. They can either beat you with Running Back, Kendre Miller or Max Duggan can take the situation into his own hands. When I was on “College Football Showdown” a few weeks ago, I talked about Max and his ability to lob passes. He really puts the ball in the air and it falls perfectly into the hands of his intended Receiver. It’s one of the more impressive things I’ve seen in quite some time. On the defensive side, they’re too up and down. Giving up 26 points per game won’t get the job done and when your defense struggles, it puts more pressure upon your offense due to the simple fact the defense can’t get off the field and your offense will have to sustain long drives. In other words, their offense is their defense in a way. Despite that, I love what Sonny Dykes has done with this program. They’ll welcome an energetic Wildcats team to town on Saturday.
Kansas State X-Factor: Felix Anudike-Uzomah– He is the best pass rusher in the country. Felix makes an impact each time he steps on the football field. His first step is so electric. Felix times it perfectly and gets to his spots with timing and speed. He’s an Offensive Line’s worst nightmare if you don’t account for him.
TCU X-Factor: Jamoi Hodge– This is a very solid football player. He’s the most physical defender that TCU has on their team. When Jamoi has the chance to light someone up, he takes full advantage. He has that knack for finding the football. Jamoi is third on the team in tackles with 30 and second in sacks with 2.5.
Final Thoughts: Who would’ve thought this was a marquee matchup in the Big-12? If you look at both of these teams, it’s contrasting styles. Kansas State wants to run the ball and slow the game down while TCU likes to play that run and gun style of offense. The Wildcats will have a chance if they limit the Horned Frogs chunk plays and keep their offense under 30 points. They must also stay within their box and play their style of football. Getting into a shootout with TCU is asking for trouble. TCU must get the Wildcats offense off the field on third down. Also, they must win the third down battle on both sides of the football.
Prediction: TCU 34, Kansas State 24
