Texas Longhorns vs Texas Tech: Offensive Battle will Reveal Team Character

This one is a little late, but game time is still approximately 18 hours away, so better than never!

What this game will tell us

Who we are.  This is the highest level of competition we have faced so far, and it will answer several key questions.  Is the secondary as good as billed?  Can we rush the passer effectively?  Just how good is Garrett Gilbert at this point?  Is the run game serviceable enough to win us games?

The last question in particular will be answered Saturday night, because without some kind of a running game, this contest may not go our way. 

Garrett Gilbert and the offensive line will be tested and they'll grow up a lot this week. Our skill position players will have to step up, too.  Whether or not we like the answers to those questions, we'll know the identity of the 2010 Longhorns.

The Story

Last season, this game was billed as a revenge game for the Longhorns.  Some thought Texas would win by as many as 30 points in Austin, but that didn't exactly happen.  The first half ended with Texas up 10-3, the lone touchdown being a Jordan Shipley punt return. 

The second half turned out to be a shootout in which Texas outscored the Red Raiders, 24-21.  Tech has a new coach in Tommy Tubberville, and the offense looks as productive as it's ever been.  The defense looks more improved.  Tech has given up big chunks of passing yards in the past two games, but has thrived on the turnovers.    

According to my sources and observations, Tech fans are extremely excited about this game.  Historically, it is a close contest.  The line is Texas by three, so I don't know that many people see a blowout coming from either side. 

Defense!

In the Mack Brown era, the average amount of points we've scored in Lubbock is 36.8.  The average allowed?  32.2.  That means that in order for Texas to win this game, we have to keep Tech out of the endzone. 

Scoring 37 points on the road should be enough to beat any foe, and the fact that we're 3-3 since 1998 tells me that we need to step it up on D.    

Prediction 

I was extremely pessimistic after the Wyoming game about the challenge awaiting this team.  Since then, I've somehow gotten a boost of optimism.  Maybe it is a false optimism, but at least I'm eating again (just kidding, football is not as important as food).  The following is my Extremely In-Depth Prediction for this Saturday. 

Here goes. Tech scores early to take a 7-0 lead.  After a couple of possession exchanges, the Longhorns charge back, scoring at the onset of the second quarter to tie the game.  Texas takes advantage of good field position they're given in the last two minutes of the half, and though they don't get a touchdown, they kick a field goal to take the lead. 

Texas scores early in the third quarter to go up 17-7 before Tech responds with a touchdown of their own.  The Texas defense holds for the rest of the quarter, and the Longhorns put up two more field goals, getting stopped once inside the redzone.  Tech rallies in the fourth and gets in the endzone to bring it within two, making it 23-21.

Texas runs down the clock with a late drive that puts three points on the board, giving them some breathing room.  The Texas defense holds on Tech's last drive, coming up with an interception returned to midfield.  Texas runs out the clock for the win. 

Score: 26-21 
Halftime score: Texas, 10-7 
Gilbert: 21/35, 265 yards 
Rushing yards: 175+ 
INTs: Gilbert one, Potts three 
Texas Tech Total Yards: 345 
Defense: four turnovers  

Another thing I'm going to say is that I think the veterans on this team will play very well.  From what I've heard, they're very focused on this game.