Living Up to the Hype: Texas Tech Travels to Kansas

Correspondent Written on October 23, 2008

Texas Tech is 7-0 for the first time since 1976. The Mike Leach system that has received criticism over the years for overemphasis on offense while ignoring defense seems to have finally broken out to contend for the Big 12.

Part of this also may have to do with the fact that Tech has yet to play a ranked team. Their opponents currently sit with a combined record of 22-28...ouch...but that all ends this weekend, when the Raiders begin a series of four games in five weeks, all against ranked teams.

This series kicks off at 11:00 am against the No. 23 Kansas Jayhawks in Lawrence, Kansas. This game pits two of the nation’s best QB-WR tandems in the nation against each other with KU’s Reesing-Briscoe (who doesn’t lead the Jayhawks in receptions, but does in yards and TDs) and Tech’s Harrell-Crabtree duo.

It’s safe to say there won’t be a whole lot of defense played, and both teams will probably score at least 40 points. They started the game so early so that it might be over by sundown with all the passing that will be going on.

Of course, now that I’ve said that, watch it be a low-scoring defensive battle with a powerful and conservative running game. Crazier things have happened, but I wouldn’t count on it.

A quick statistical breakdown

Todd Reesing: 195/208 for 2,322 yds and 17 TDs, five INTs

Graham Harrell: 222/318 for 2,761 yds and 23 TDs, five INTs

Dezmon Briscoe: 43 receptions for 705 yds and eight TDs

Michael Crabtree: 51 receptions for 724 yds and 12 TDs

Some defensive stats

KU has the 99th-ranked pass defense in the nation, allowing 250 yards per game.

Tech has the 103rd-ranked pass defense in the nation, allowing 258 yards per game.

KU has the 29th-ranked rushing defense in the nation, allowing 109 yards per game.

Tech has the 12th-ranked rushing defense in the nation, allowing 92 yards per game.

They’re 65th and 58th respectively in total defense and 47th and 43rd respectively in scoring defense.

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written on October 23, 2008 Opinion