Game Week: Texas Tech Comes To Play

Texas Tech comes to Fort Worth this week as one of two conference mates TCU has yet to defeat since joining the Big 12 (the other being Kansas State).

It's been a tough season for Texas Tech to this point. They're 3-4 on the season, and 1-3 in Big 12 play. Their three wins against Central Arkansas, UTEP and Kansas have come by an average of eight points. Their four losses to Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Kansas State and West Virginia have come by an average of 16.5 points.

It has, to this point, been a season of poor quarterback play and a lacking defense, and neither of those things bode well against the 2014 version of the Horned Frogs that boasts an offense averaging over 500 yards per game and a defense that, Baylor game included, ranks 45th in the country. Against teams not named Baylor, TCU is allowing an average of 275 yards per game.

Meanwhile, the Frogs are also forcing 2.6 turnovers per game. Davis Webb has already thrown 12 interceptions on the season, eight of which have come in conference play (to go with 12 touchdowns thrown in conference play, 22 total this season). Both the 22 touchdowns and 12 interceptions have eclipsed Webb's numbers from a season ago.

However, the biggest thing impacting this game are injuries to Tech receivers Jakeem Grant and Bradley Marquez. Earlier this week news broke that Jakeem Grant had been injured in an off-campus incident that involved gunfire and knives. Reports stated that Grant had been stabbed, taken to the local hospital, treated, and released. Marquez, meanwhile, is suffering from a rib injury.

It is unclear if either or both will play, but according to Viva The Matadors, Kliff Kingsbury seems to think both will play. It would be a devastating loss for Tech if neither of them could play. It doesn't look like they'll practice this week, but that doesn't rule them out of playing. On the season, Grant and Marquez have combined for 91 catches, 1,146 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Ultimately, this game comes down to TCU's secondary. If they can play the way they did against Oklahoma State, things will turn out very well for the Frogs. If they play like they did against Baylor, the game could be close.

It also comes down to whether or not the Tech defense can handle TCU's new offense, and if we had to guess, it doesn't seem like they can. Tech has allowed 30.4 points per game this season, while TCU has scored an average of 45 points per game.

So, vote below, how do you think this game turns out?