Both the Texas Longhorns and the Texas Tech Red Raiders enter this Saturday's game undefeated. Both teams are ranked in the top 10 in the BCS, AP, and USA Today polls.
Texas, who enters this game No. 1, will try to preserve its Big 12 and national title hopes. Texas Tech is trying for its first victory over the Longhorns since 2002 and to pole vault from its No. 7 ranking into the top five.
Saturday's matchup is the most highly anticipated game between the two teams since they met in Austin in 2005, the last time both teams entered the game undefeated. Texas won that game 52-17 in a blowout.
The Red Raiders, the underdog for this matchup, is leading the fan vote on ESPN's College GameDay, 35 percent to 65 percent. So far it seems the fans' confidence that lies with Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree remains unperturbed by the ever-daunting task awaiting them Saturday—the Texas Longhorns.
Graham Harrell has been the motor for Texas Tech thus far this season, and there is no reason he should stop now. Harrell has thrown for 28 touchdowns in eight games this season and has only thrown five interceptions. Harrell averages a touchdown pass every nine completions.
Harrell throws the ball roughly 45 times a game, and at a 71 percent completion rate, that would result in about 31 completions and at least three touchdown passes a game. Harrell should be able to keep this up, seeing how Texas is ranked 110th against the pass out of 119 teams.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Harrell lit up the Nebraska secondary, throwing for two touchdowns and almost 300 yards, and Nebraska is ranked 78th against the pass, more than 30 spots better than the struggling Texas pass defense.
The success of Graham Harrell is interwound with fellow Red Raider Michael Crabtree. Crabtree is Harrell's favorite target, accounting for 60 of his 256 completions and 14 of his 28 touchdowns. Harrell and Crabtree may be one of the greatest QB-WR duos of all time.
The Red Raider run game, has been used sparingly, but remains effective. The Red Raiders run the ball an average of 25 times a game, over 8 games that is 200 carries, and on 200 carries Texas Tech has ran for 23 touchdowns, averaging a td every 9 carries.
Together, Harrell and Crabtree will attempt to provide Texas Tech with a force that will be impossible to stop for the Longhorn pass defense.
The Red Raider pass defense is less than impressive, but it is a bit better than the Longhorns' pass defense and ranks 98th. Fortunately for the Red Raiders, their run defense is 14th in the nation and will provide the Longhorns' ground game with a challenge.
Colt McCoy is the undisputed leader of the Longhorns. McCoy has only 44 incompletions in 242 pass attempts, meaning he has a completion percentage of 81.8 and a QB rating of 186.46. McCoy's phenomenal stats do not end there—he has 24 touchdowns and just four interceptions.
The Longhorn running game ranks 32nd, which is solid, but on artificial turf, which they will be playing on in Lubbock, the Longhorns rank 80th in the nation, averaging 122 yards. The Red Raider defense allows just 112 rushing ypg on artificial turf, a stat that doesn't bode well for the Longhorns. Despite the lackluster performance on artificial turf, Texas' run game has been a force to reckoned with. They run the ball an average of 40 times a game, and average about 3 rush tds a game.
It is no secret that the Texas pass defense is struggling, but this Saturday they will face the nation's top passing offense. The Longhorn defense that allows 265 ypg through the air will face an offense who passes on average for over 400 ypg.
What the Longhorns lack in pass defense they more than compensate for against the run. The Texas run defense allows just over 2.5 ypc on average, and has only allowed 3 rushing tds all season.
There are many indications that this Saturday's game between the two Texas titans will be a high-scoring affair, one that will keep fans on the edge of their seats, watching these two stellar offenses shred the opponent's defense, in a game that may not be decided in regulation.
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2 months ago
Great write up - a little biased toward Tech, but I don't mind that! ;)
from 2 months ago
Aaron, I didn't realize that, but after reading it you are right it is. I was attempting to portray texas as the underdogs. I don't think tech will upset them, and i am rooting for texas, but that lack of pass deffense has me worried.
2 months ago
A little biased? Give me a break. Reading this article, you'd think Texas doesn't stand a chance. His main argument, that Texas has a bad pass defense and Tech has a great pass offense, is ridiculous. It's pointless to look at the stats at this point in the season. Look who the teams have played. Texas is at the end of their hellish gauntlet of games - Tech hasn't even started theirs. Of the 8 teams Tech has played (Eastern Washington, Nevada, SMU, Massachusetts, Kansas State, Nebraska, and Kansas), only 1 is good. That's if you want to call Kansas a good team. Who cares if Harrell "lit up" the Nebraska secondary? Bravo.
National rankings of pass defense are pointless anyway when you have a conference with as many star quarterbacks and prolific pass offenses as the Big 12. The article also conveniently fails to point out that when you look at total defense, Texas is #1 in the Big 12.
It's not that I don't think Tech is a good team and this won't be a good game, I do. It's just annoying to see some hack spouting off pointless stats as if they mean something.
Final Score: Texas - 45 Tech - 35
To be fair though, I'm a little biased too (but at least I'm not an idiot)
from 2 months ago
Travis,
your score is similar to mine and I am not biased toward Tech, I was attempting to make them appear as the underdog. Texas has a top5 run deffense, but we both know tech is known for their passing game. Personally I think MCoy will when the heisman, only 44 incompletions that is unbelievablle, but in a conference where so many teams throw the ball the run defense is going to look better than it is b/c other teams might not run the ball but 14 times. Against Texas Ok state only ran the ball 24 times,they usually run the ball about 49 times a game, so that was a stat that was misleading and I chose to leave it out, I talked about Techs rush offense, b/c texas runs it on average 40 times a game. Tech runs only 25 times a game on average so talking about there run game was kind of pointless, but if it makes you feel better I will include it.
Texas 41 T Tech 35
from 2 months ago
to go with my last comment Harrell will throw for at least 3 tds. You can bank on it.
Harrell 270 yards 3 tds 0 ints
from 2 months ago
If Harrell only throws for 270 yards, there is no way Tech keeps the game close.
from 2 months ago
To Colin,
270 may be a little low but I'm calling this one conservative Texas has a good pass rush and may make him a bit uncomfortable. That is why I'm giving Texas the win, despite my prediction of 3 tds, maybe 4 but if Harrell throws for more than about 330 yard, Tech will win the magic number in yards to set them up is for a "w" i believe is 350 area. It will be a good game.
from 2 months ago
I don't see Harrell throwing for under 350, unless Texas plays ball hog and dominates time of possession.
from 2 months ago
colin, if I was texas, that is exactly what I would do. eat up the clock, the less time Harrell has the ball th less damage he can do.
from 2 months ago
I can agree with that, but if that plan works, than Tech will lose, plain and simple in my eyes.
2 months ago
I felt bad, so I came back to the page to write a retraction of my accusation of "hackery" only to see your new post. Now I feel even worse.
from 2 months ago
Travis, I want to thank you for the first post, I reworked some of the article, added the stats on the Texas run defense, and talked a bit about the Raiders run game, I think it improved the article, Thanks very much, I appreciate it.
Cody
from 2 months ago
Travis, I want to thank you for the first post, I reworked some of the article, added the stats on the Texas run defense, and talked a bit about the Raiders run game, I think it improved the article, Thanks very much, I appreciate it.
Cody
2 months ago
The updates look good. Great work on this one, Cody.
from 2 months ago
thanks aaron glad you enjoyed the read.
2 months ago
Interesting twist of the Nebraska / Tech results. I tought it went to over time and Tech felt darn lucky to escape with a win after missing an extra point and intercepting a ball misthrown because of a near sack.
from 2 months ago
It did go into overtime, but that had nothing to do with Techs passing attack. It was the red raider secondary that allowed 357 yard in the air, if your defense can't stop the opponent then it doesn't matter how good your offense is b/c you are laying catch up.
2 months ago
Texas Tech is good there is no doubt about it, but Texas overrall is more solid and alot better. TTU fans are counting completely on Harrell having a good passing game but don't take into consideration that Texas has a great pass rush and Harrell will start playing different once he starts getting knocked around a little bit(which will happen). Also, everyone keeps talking about how bad texas' pass defense is(ranked 110 or something). Take into consideration that every team they played has trailed and by alot, except for OSU. This makes the opponent throw and throw to attempt any comeback. This will be a passing battle but the pressure will be new and too much for Harrell(hopefully anyways). Also another note, Harrell's stats are very padded due to Leach running up the score on any garbage defense team they can find. I wish they didn't even count stats for non-conference because Texas Tech picks and chooses the worst teams possible and boosts harrells stats to make him look like a god. I believe next year they play Sam Houston, which is an absolute joke.
Texas, 35 Texas Tech, 28
-Hookem Horns_
from 2 months ago
Texas by a score! I like the call of the longhorns in a nail bitter, but I see texas w/ maybe 42 and tt with 35. By the way, Tech has 12 passing tds against non conference teams and averages 426 ypg (they average 410 ypg in the big 12) they have played 4 conference and 4 non conference opponents, Harrell has thrown 16 tds against conference opponents.
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