TCU QB Casey Pachall opens the Big 12 season against the worst defense in college football last season. (Getty Images)

No. 16 TCU (1-0, 0-0 Big 12) at Kansas (1-1, 0-0 Big 12)

Kickoff: Saturday, noon ET (FX)

Spread: TCU by 21

Watchability: Had the Jayhawks blown out Rice last week, they could have been an upset pick against TCU in their Big 12 opener. The Jayhawks, however, melted in the fourth quarter and lost to Rice, showing that the program still has a long way to go before it can compete in the Big 12. Unless Charlie Weis can work some miracles this week, hit the snooze until Oct. 6 when TCU plays its second Big 12 game against Iowa State.

Shining stars: Kansas: Tony Pierson. Many thought the Jayhawks would ride the right arm of QB Dayne Crist. Through two games, it looks like their best bet is handing the ball off to Pierson. The sophomore RB is third in the Big 12 in rushing with 244 yards and averaging 6.3 yards per carry. TCU: Casey Pachall. Pachall is yet to throw an incompletion in 2012. He completed all nine of his attempts in the opener against Grambling State, throwing for 201 yards and three TDs. Pachall's ability to run and throw will be difficult for KU's defense to contain.

Who could steal the show: Kansas: Crist. Yes, he is only completing 51.6 percent of his passes. Yes, he has three interceptions and only two touchdowns. But at some point he has to show what made Weis so ecstatic when Crist transferred to Kansas, right? TCU: Josh Boyce. The Kansas corners played soft coverage and allowed Rice to dink and dime the ball down the field. If they allow Boyce to catch the ball in space, Boyce has the chance to turn any reception into a huge play. He caught four passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns in the opener against Grambling State.

You going? Ranking the road trip: It's typically not a problem for a visiting fan to find a ticket for a game at Memorial Stadium. The real party at Kansas is the tailgate scene, as the product on the field is not much fun to watch. 

Magic number for Kansas: 20. The Jayhawks are scared to ride Pierson to hard because he's only 5-10 and 170 pounds. But when you're as desperate as the Jayhawks, they might as well put the ball in their best players hands and not treat him like a delicate pitcher. Pierson ran for 110 yards on 16 carries in the first three quarters against Rice and only touched it three times in the fourth quarter. Pierson had 20 touches in the opener, and Weis needs to find creative ways to get him more touches in space, possibly through screen passes -- he has yet to catch a pass this season. 

Magic number for TCU: 40. The Horned Frogs were 0-2 last season when Pachall attempted 40 or more passes and undefeated when he threw less than 40 times. 

This game comes down to: Showing up. Much has been made about whether TCU and West Virginia can handle the weekly grind in the Big 12. In the Mountain West, all the Horned Frogs had to do was stay motivated and they would win. As long as they mirror that philosophy and show up motivated in Lawrence, they should come away with an easy win. 

Prediction: TCU 52, Kansas 14

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Big 12 bloggers C.J. Moore and Patrick Southern, follow @CBSSportsBig12 on Twitter. You can also follow C.J. (@cjmoore4) and Patrick (@patricksouthern) as well.