No. 7 Kansas State at No. 6 TCU (-6) 7:30 pm FOX
Daniel: These teams have been some of my stalwarts in my picks this year, both regularly coming through with clutch wins. This is a great matchup of two of the best coaches in the nation as well in KSU’s Bill Snyder and TCU’s Gary Patterson. KSU isn’t flashy, but the Wildcats just find ways to win. TCU, on the other hand, has shown the ability to put up huge numbers, including an astounding 144 total points combined in its last two games. This is somewhat of a coin flip game to me, so I’m just going with the home team in this one. Winner: TCU 31-30
Houston: I’ve picked against Dan Snyder this season and it’s burned me. I’ve picked against Gary Patterson this season and it’s burned me. I don’t know what to think of this game. Kansas State’s defense looked outstanding against Auburn earlier in the year, and their offense looked much-improved in their 31-30 win over Oklahoma in mid-October. TCU has shown that they can play defense when they need to – Baylor game notwithstanding – and score some points when they need to, but they showed me something last week in their 31-30 come-from-behind win over West Virginia in Morgantown. I like the Horned Frogs a lot right now, and I really like that they get Kansas State at home in a night game. Give me the frogs. Winner: TCU 34-24
Reed: I love Kansas State. They consistently outperform their talent. They won at Oklahoma this season. They narrowly lost to Auburn. But TCU is the better team and they’re playing at home. Can that overcome the Snyder Effect? TCU’s comeback win on the road at West Virginia last week suggests that it can. I’m never comfortable picking against Snyder, but TCU’s superior talent should be the difference in this one. Winner: Horned Frogs 34-31
Ryan: I’ve been driving the Bill Snyder fan bus for awhile now. I don’t have the proper certifications, but I was delighted to find it parked outside Sooner Stadium with the keys still in it so I hopped in and drove off. It drives by design like a Buick and it’s been relatively smooth thus far, but this is apparently where things get bumpy.
Kansas State is staring down the barrel of a pretty brutal schedule to close out the season, but if they can navigate it successfully they’ll all but guarantee themselves a spot in the inaugural College Football Playoff. That’s relatively insane when you consider that Dave Bartoo’s Talent Rankings deem Kansas State the ninth-most talented roster in the 10-team Big 12. Yet, here’s Bill Snyder and Kansas State, prepping for a game many are considering a playoff eliminator.
All totaled, I’m relatively torn because I love the way TCU has played this year, as well, and Trevone Boykin deserves a lot more national attention than he is currently receiving. However, when it comes time to pick, I simply love Bill Snyder and Kansas State more. They’re no fun to watch at all, yet they continue to win and I absolutely adore it. Winner: Kansas State 38-33
