#1 Texas @ #7 Texas Tech football preview

The grueling march Texas has been on through the last month might be enough to make any football program question its fortitude.

However, the Longhorns have shown their grit with wins over arch rival Oklahoma, Missouri and Oklahoma State. Now, they are asked to do it one time in probably the most reckless environments they will see this year. But they’ve seen this before.

The BCS leaders visit No. 7 Texas Tech Saturday night Lubbock in what will surely be the biggest game to ever come to the South Plains. Once again, ESPN’s College Game Day will do its show from there.

And again, gaining control of the Big 12 South comes with whoever wins.

“From this point to the end of the year, winning is what’s really important,’’ Texas coach Mack Brown said. “and our guys understand that and they will go through with it.’’

In past years, Texas Tech has brought offense and suspect defense to these matchups. That’s why they usually fizzled at the end of their seasons.

But the Red Raiders may have the most balanced team in coach Mike Leach’s tenure. Junior quarterback Graham Harrell is the nation’s passing leader with 393.3 yards per game. He also is the fourth leader passer in NCAA history with 13,829 yards. Although wide receiver Jeremy Crabtree isn’t exploding (794 yards, 14TD) like he did last year, he is arguably going to the best player on the field in this game.

That’s why it’s going to be very important for Texas’ pass rush – led by defensive end Brian Orakpo (9 sacks) and linebacker Sergio Kindle – to get around or through the Texas Tech offensive line split setups and harass Harrell.

Harrell will complete his share of passes. The issue becomes how much can Texas’ pressure make an impact?

“We have to do a great job of getting off blocks and getting to the quarterback,’’ Texas defensive ends coach Oscar Giles said. “Their line does a great job, we just have to cut off the edge and really get to [Harrell] as soon as we can.’’

Texas showed some flaws in the fourth quarter of its win over Oklahoma St. last week. Heisman Trophy leader Colt McCoy threw an interception, lost a fumble at the Cowboys’ 10-yard line and then couldn’t finish the game-sealing drive in the last minute.

But McCoy has still become this ballclub’s leader, throwing for 2,285 yards and 21 touchdowns and continues to effectively use Quan Cosby and Jordan Shipley.

Texas should be able to move the ball against an improving but sometimes inconsistent Red Raider defense. Then again, this is the Big 12 where offense rules the league.

The goofiness of playing in Lubbock is that teams go through an out-of-body experience out there. There is never a time where the game feels comfortable. And there are bizarre sequences.

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The approach may be to just survive Texas Tech rather than just beating Texas Tech. Nine of the Red Raiders’ 14 lifetime victories over the Longhorns have been in Lubbock.

Texas can win this with enough defensive stops and forcing some turnovers. Texas Tech can win this with pristine execution.

If it comes down to the kicking game, Texas wins because the Red Raiders have gone through kickers and is using a kid by the name of Matt Williams who was brought out of the stands after he won a halftime contest earlier this year.

Texas has the steady Hunter Lawrence who hasn’t missed an extra point or a field goal so far.

Still, if ever there was a time for Texas to get caught exhaling, this is the week.

Prediction: Texas Tech 41, Texas 35

Notable

• Guess who has the longer winning streak? Texas Tech. The Red Raiders have won 10 consecutive games dating back to last year. The Longhorns have won nine in a row.
• The Red Raiders are off to only their third 8-0 start in school history.
• Texas has won the last five meetings. The last Tech win in the series was in 2002.

No. 1 Texas Longhorns (8-0, 4-0) @ No. 7 Texas Tech Red Raiders (8-0, 4-0)
Time: 7 p.m. CDT
Site: Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, Texas
TV: ABC
Series: 58 th meeting. Texas leads 43-14.

By Kevin Lonnquist
Big 12 Fans Staff Writer

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