OU-Texas Tech: Red Raiders Look for Monumental Upset Over Sooners

It is unlikely that another coach in the Big XII Conference knows more about Mike Leach’s high-powered offense than OU coach Bob Stoops. Leach worked under Stoops at OU in 1999 and recruited OU star QB Josh Heupel.

Saturday, Mike Leach will get a chance to stage a dramatic upset as a national audience will be watching the contest between these two teams.

OU Passing:

OU’s 2007 team is an anomaly in that they went from a senior at QB to a red shirt freshman and actually improved. Sam Bradford directs OU’s offense and has yet to have an off day on the football field. He has completed 185-264 passes for 2,509 yards with 28 TD’s and 6 INT’s. Bradford has tall receivers with great athletes to throw to.

OU Receiving:

Juaquin Iglesias leads Oklahoma’s receivers with 48 receptions for 704 yards and 4 TD’s. Malcolm Kelly is next with 38 catches for 695 yards and 9 TD’s. TE Jermaine Gresham has 30 grabs for 406 yards and 10 TD’s. Manuel Johnson is next on the list with 22 catches for 310 yards and 2 scores. TE Joe Jon Finley, WR Adron Tennell, and RB Chris Brown have 1 TD each to wrap up OU’s scoring through the air.  

OU Rushing:

Electric freshman DeMarco Murray paces the formidable OU rushing attack with 108 rushes for 670 yards and 13 TD’s. Murray’s speed is a huge weapon for the Sooners. He might even be faster than UT’s Jamaal Charles, whom the Red Raiders faced last week. Allen Patrick actually has more carries than Murray. He has accumulated 115 touches for 628 yards and 5 scores. Chris Brown comes in 3rd at 91 rushes for 382 yards and 5 more TD’s. Mossis Madu (2), WR Iglesias and RB Jacob Gutierrez, one score each, complete OU’s rushing scores.

Texas Tech Passing:

The Red Raiders are led by fiery gunslinger Graham Harrell. He has completed 421-572 passes for 4,878 yards with 43 TD’s and 12 INT’s. Harrell has been remarkably consistent in his time as a starter. Last season he threw 38 TD’s and 11 INT’s. Against OU’s talented and aggressive secondary, Harrell will need to play extremely well for Texas Tech to hang with the Sooners.

Texas Tech Receiving:

Michael Crabtree is Texas Tech’s best receiver. Any college football fan that isn’t aware of this freshman needs to be examined for dementia. Crabtree has 113 catches for 1,707 yards and 20 TD’s. The youngster had a good game in Austin last week after struggling against both Missouri and Baylor on the road. Senior Danny Amendola isn’t far behind Crabtree with 94 catches for 1,096 yards and 5 TD’s. Eric Morris, affectionately named "Elf" by Mike Leach, has 58 grabs for 634 yards and 10 TD’s. Edward Britton has 40 catches for 554 yards and 4 TD’s. Britton has asserted himself in practice and in games while LA Reed has been injured. Britton will keep his “starter” label since it appears the coaching staff is toying with the idea of moving Reed to defense. Grant Walker has 26 catches for 293 yards and 2 TD’s. Aaron Crawford and Detron Lewis have 2 scores apiece while Lyle Leong has 1 TD grab to finish Tech’s receiving scores.

Texas Tech Rushing:

Shannon Woods’ 84 touches and 8 TD’s pace Tech’s rushing game. However, Woods won’t play this week. Kobey Lewis is next with 41 touches for 156 yards and 2 TD’s. True freshman Aaron Crawford will get the start this week. On the season he has 34 rushes for 138 yards and 4 TD’s. QB Harrell’s 3 TD’s on QB sneaks round out the Red Raiders’ rushing scores.

Intangibles:

Bob Stoops has assembled a mighty fine team at Oklahoma. For Texas Tech to have a realistic chance in this game, the defense will have to play better than it has all season, and the Red Raiders will have to cause a few OU turnovers. If that doesn’t come to fruition, Texas Tech fans could be in for a long night. However, for some reason Texas Tech has enjoyed some memorable moments inside Jones SBC Stadium after the West Texas sun has gone to bed. Mike Leach’s Pirates of the Plains will play an inspired game, but run out of gas in the end.

Prediction: Texas Tech 31, OU 42.