subject: Is Texas Going To Beat Texas Tech? [print this page] Texas Tech has looked invincible on the road this year. Texas hasn't lost at home to the Red Raiders in more than a decade. Does Tech have the Longhorns right where they want them when the Red Raiders pay a visit to Austin this Saturday? Texas has shown vulnerability, getting beaten 55-17 by the same team that lost at home to Texas Tech, 41-38Oklahoma.
After Texas posted a home shutout last week and Texas Tech struggled in its home game against Iowa State, this game will be important to both teams from a respect perspective.
Texas has won 45 of the 60 all-time meetings, including 24-14 win in Lubbock last year. UT has won seven of the last meetings overall and the last six at home in Austin.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
The Red Raiders handed Oklahoma a rare home loss, but followed that with a 41-7 home loss to Iowa State for their third loss in four games after a 4-0 start. The team has allowed 38 or more points in each of the last four games and all three losses have been at home (but is 3-0 on the road, averaging 48 points per contest).
The TTU offense is loaded, ranking 14th nationally in scoring (29 points per game) while recording 508 yards of offense per game (360 passing, 148 rushing). Seth Doege leads this offense by completing 68 percent of his passes for 2,779 yards and 22 touchdowns with six interceptions. His offensive line has allowed 12 sacks. Eric Ward and Alex Torres are the top receivers, combining for 90 grabs for 1,002 yards and 12 TDs.
DeAndre Washington and Aaron Crawford head up the run game with 487 yards and four TDs combined, while leading rusher Eric Stephens (570 yards, eight TDs) is out for the year after a knee injury suffered against Texas A&M.
The Red Raider defense has been beat up this year, ranking just 93rd nationally in scoring (32 points per game) and giving up 436 total yards per outing (226 rushing, 210 passing). The unit has posted 10 sacks and forced 12 turnovers. Cody Davis and D.J. Johnson have combined for 95 tackles to lead this group, with Johnson adding two INTs, a forced fumble and a recovery.
Nine different players have sacks, with Scott Smith posting two. Dartwan Smith leads the team with four forced fumbles and two recoveries.
Texas Longhorns
Following two straight losses to Top 10 teams, the Longhorns bounced back with a 43-0 home win over Kansas last week. After this week's home date, three of the last four games on the schedule are on the road, but against unranked teams14th-ranked Kansas State will be the final home opponent. The team allows 15 points per game in wins, but 46.5 in losses.
With the shutout last week Texas improved its scoring defense to 30th nationally (22 points per game) and allows 296 yards per game (192 passing, 104 rushing). The Longhorns have recorded 10 sacks and forced 15 turnovers.
Emmanuel Acho has 60 tackles while Keenan Robinson adds 50. Alex Okafor has three sacks, Adrian Phillips and Quandre Diggs each have two picks, Tevin Jackson has two fumble recoveries and Robinson is among four players with two forced fumbles each.
The Texas offense rebounded last week and currently ranks 39th nationally in scoring (32 points per game) while recording 415 total yards per outing (219 rushing, 196 passing). Malcolm Brown leads the run game for Texas with 635 yards (4.8 yards per carry) and five touchdowns, while Fozzy Whittaker has four scores and 288 yards (5.5 yards per carry).
David Ash and Case McCoy lead the passing game, completing a combined 63 percent of their passes for 1,059 yards with five TDs and five INTs. The offensive line has allowed 18 sacks. Jaxon Shipley and Mike Davis are the top receiving threats, combining for 60 grabs for 856 yards and four TDs.
Justin Tucker has made 37-of-38 scoring kicks this season (10-of-11 FG, 27-of-27 PAT), Whittaker has returned two of his eight kickoff returns for TDs (average of 47 yards per return) and Josh Turner has a 34-yard punt return for a score this season.
