Texas Tech Football: Nine Things Red Raiders Must Know vs. Houston Cougars
It seems almost unbelievable that we have reached the final stanza of the 2010 regular season.
Looking back the Red Raider Nation began the 2010 campaign filled with hope mixed with uneasiness and then faced 12 weeks of uncertainty, dismay and angst mixed in with the occasional burst of hope, pride and celebration.
So, what’s left for these proud pigskin people of the plains?
As Texas Tech prepares to welcome the Houston Cougars to Lubbock this holiday weekend there is still plenty left on the table for the Red Raiders to chew on. Yes, this game, regardless of what anyone else is saying, still matters.
And it matters not only because of next season's opening momentum, recruiting or revenge; it matters because despite a difficult 2010 campaign this is still Texas Tech Red Raider football.
This is an opportunity to go 7-5 rather than 6-6. This is an opportunity to properly send out a senior class that has endured twelve months of massive change and unparalleled scrutiny. This is an opportunity for one more glorious Tech win.
Never again, after Saturday, will we hear names like “Potts, Sheffield, Batch, Lewis, Leong, Bird, Duncan, Olson, Williams, Whitlock etc...” uttered over the public address system at the Jones AT&T Stadium.
They have served us very well.
Let us take this opportunity to reclaim the spirit of the Red Raider Nation, to temporarily drop the titles of “Team Leach” and “pro Tuberville” and let us instead join together to send our young men onwards and upwards as “Team Tech”.
The following slideshow attempts to pinpoint nine “must know” facts for those preparing themselves for the 2010 edition of Texas Tech vs. Houston.
Thank you seniors and GO TECH!
1. The Details
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Saturday, November 27, 2010 at 7PM CST
Jones Stadium, Lubbock Texas
FSN National TV coverage
Forecast: High 63, Low 32, zero percent chance of precipitation, winds 9 mph from the SSW
2. The Series
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Overall: Houston leads 18-10
In Lubbock: Houston leads 8-5
Texas Tech lost by a narrow 29-28 margin last season in Houston but won its previous five meetings with the Cougars.
The series began in 1951.
Average score in the series: Houston 22.6, Texas Tech 24.1
3. A Brief Glance at the Houston Cougars
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Coach: Kevin Sumlin, 23-14 in three seasons at Houston, Sumlin is 1-0 vs. Texas Tech
2010 Record: 5-6 overall and 4-4 in Conference USA play
2010 Victories: Texas State, UTEP, Tulane, at SMU and at Memphis
2010 Defeats: at UCLA, Mississippi State, at Rice, at Memphis, Tulsa and at Southern Mississippi
The Cougars have lost their last three consecutive games.
Former Tech QB Kliff Kingsbury serves as the co-offensive coordinator for Houston.
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4. The Cougars' QB Status
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The high hopes associated with the Houston Cougars' 2010 campaign were somewhat dashed when Heisman hopeful QB Case Keenum tore his right ACL in the Cougars’ loss to UCLA in the third game of the season.
Impossibly, backup QB Colton Turner was lost in the same game.
Since the dual injuries the Cougars' prolific passing attack has been led by freshman David Piland (Southlake, Texas) who has amassed 2200 yards (169/284), 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in seven starts.
5. The Cougars Are Playing For Bowl Eligibility
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Though the Red Raiders punched their Bowl eligibility ticket last week vs. Weber State the Cougars are still one game away from the six wins required to reach the post season.
Houston’s meeting this Saturday vs. the Red Raiders will be the Cougars' final chance to reach six wins.
The Cougars will definitely be playing with purpose on Saturday and therefore this will be no “lame duck” last game of the season.
6. Tech Offense vs. Houston Defense
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Overall, it’s the No. 36 ranked Texas Tech offense ranked against the Cougars' No. 93 scoring defense.
Tech’s No. 9 ranked passing offense (averaging 310 yards per game) faces off with Houston’s No. 55 ranked passing defense (allowing 211 yards per game).
The Red Raiders' No. 82 ranked rushing offense (averaging 140 yards per game) will clash with the Cougars' No. 114 passing defense (allowing 217 yards per game).
7. Tech Defense vs. Houston Offense
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Overall, it’s the No. 92 ranked Tech scoring “D” pitted against the No. 10 Cougar ranked offense.
Tech’s No. 118 passing defense (allowing a dismal 294 yards per game) will try and contain Houston’s No. 7 ranked air attack (averaging 317 yards per game).
On the ground it’s the Red Raiders' No. 67 ranked rushing “D” (allowing 158 yards per game) facing off against the Cougars’ No. 62 ranked running game (averaging 154 yards per game).
8. Keys to a Tech Victory
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The Houston Cougars may be 5-6, may have lost their starting senior QB and may have struggled to a less than stellar 2010 mark but they are no pushover.
Texas Tech’s keys to victory over the Cougars:
1. Run the Ball Successfully
Houston’s real defensive weakness is against the run where they rank No. 114. In the Cougars' last three consecutive defeats they allowed an average of 279 yards per game. Tech has gained an average of 161.5 yards on the ground in their six victories and 114 yards on the ground in their five defeats.
2. Control the Clock
One of the keys to stopping the Cougars' offense is keeping them off the field. Running the ball successfully, converting third downs and getting an offensive rhythm going in the passing game will all result not only in points on the board but assistance for a defense that will have their hands full with the Cougars' offense.
3. Don’t Get Behind Early
Texas Tech has allowed 60 percent of opponent’s points to be scored in the first half. The Red Raiders simply cannot spot the Cougars 21 points in the first quarter if they expect to win this game. Again, the offense will need to move the ball to help the “D” out.
4. Shut Down the Cougars' Passing Attack
When the Tech defense managed to shut down an otherwise potent Missouri attack they did so by jamming the receiving lanes and basically swarming the Tigers' receivers. Tech will have to do this and more against the Cougars and substitutions will be key in keeping the defenders fresh on each and every series. Keenum being out of the picture has not slowed down the Houston attack enough to eliminate a real threat that could be disastrous for Texas Tech on Saturday.
5. Zero Mistakes
Costly personal fouls, fumbles, interceptions and bizarre special teams play will very likely sink any hopes Tech has of reaching seven wins at home vs. Houston. Tech’s seniors need to lead the Red Raiders to a perfect game.
6. Force Field Goals
Houston has been successful scoring from the red zone 84 percent of the time but only 62 percent of these scores have been touchdowns. “Bend but don’t break” is better than allowing an all out scoring frenzy. Tech needs to make stops, even if they are deep in their own territory.
9. Eight Wins in 2010?
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After an ugly 45-27 loss to Texas A&M in College Station the prospects of an eight win season seemed about as possible as the Dallas Cowboys offering Wade Phillips a contract extension.
But, now with one final regular season game remaining the 2010 Texas Tech Red Raiders have an opportunity to do just that, win eight games on a season that looked all but over on Halloween.
If Tech can manage a win over the Cougars this Saturday and then a Bowl victory they will go 8-5 in one of the toughest campaigns in recent history.
How the Tech fans react at the Jones in Lubbock on Saturday evening will have a great deal to do with the success of the Red Raiders and the final outcome of this season.
It is indeed time for the Red Raider Nation to rise once again.
Go Tech! Go Tech! Go Tech!
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