Missouri Football: 10 Things You Need to Know About Texas Tech

The Texas Tech Red Raiders will most likely remember this season for one single game rather than an entire body of work.

A once-promising season has seen disaster strike, and now the Red Raiders will ride into Columbia flirting with being left out of bowl season.

The Tigers, on the other hand, are coming off a huge upset of Texas and now sit at 5-5 in good position to be members of the postseason.

Before the Red Raiders arrive in town for their showdown with Mizzou, here are some things you should know about this Tech squad.

Pass, Pass, Pass

Texas Tech runs a system that leans heavily on the passing attack. There's really no other way to put it.

They employ the seventh-highest passing offense at just over 340 yards per game, and as a team, they have attempted more passes than any other team in the country.

They're not going to run the ball often against the Tigers and will rely on quarterback Seth Doege to put up enough points to put them in a position to win.

They Beat Oklahoma

Most are aware of Texas Tech's monumental upset in Norman, Oklahoma over the Sooners that ultimately could prevent Oklahoma from competing for a national championship.

The Red Raiders left Oklahoma battered and bruised after a 41-38 thriller. Quarterback Seth Doege led the way with 441 yards and four touchdowns.

Seth Doege

I've mentioned Seth Doege's name a few times now, and it's because he's been pretty impressive in showing skill and leadership within the Red Raider offense.

On the season Doege has thrown for a shade over 3,300 yards with 24 touchdowns against only seven interceptions.

He's thrown at least three touchdowns in a game on six different occasions this season.

Against a Mizzou secondary that could be down a starting cornerback in Kip Edwards, Doege could have a huge day.

They Can't Play Defense

What Texas Tech produces on offense they basically give right back on the defensive side of the ball.

Through 10 games the defense is giving up 37.4 points per game—good for sixth-to-last in the entire FBS.

The Missouri offense is capable of putting up points in bunches, and I expect them to try and exploit an inept defense.

Red Zone Efficiency

Red zone efficiency is one of my favorite stats in all of college football for the simple reason that it portrays how well a team can score the football.

Thus far, the Red Raiders are ninth in college football in red zone efficiency—converting on 41 of 45 trips inside the 20-yard line.

Of those 41 times, 34 of them have been registered for seven points. That is 76 percent conversion rate.

Moral of the story: Keep them out of the red zone.

More Random Stats to Illustrate the Red Raiders

For starters, they've run more offensive plays than any other team in the nation at 834. Of those 834, 490 of them have been pass attempts which leads the nation as well.

They're heavily penalties and average 7.2 infractions per game. Can you say lack of discipline?

They rank top 20 in plays longer than 30 yards so Missouri secondary needs to come prepared to keep Tech's receivers in front of them on the field.

The've Lost Three Straight

Texas Tech's once promising season has taken a tumble since pulling off the upset of Oklahoma.

In the three games since, the Red Raiders have gone 0-3 and none of the games have been close.

They have been outscored 159-33 in those three losses including a 41-7 letdown at home against Iowa State.

I just can't see this team turning it around at this point.

Defense Has Given Up at Least 40 Points in Every Loss

I mentioned briefly of Texas Tech's woes in the last three games but the fact is the defense has been bad in every game this season.

Simple stats sometimes tell very detailed stories.

In Texas Tech's five losses—Texas A&M, Kansas State, Texas, Oklahoma and Iowa State—they have given up at least 40 points to each opponent.

That's putting a lot of pressure on your own offense just to keep up.

The Rivalry

Missouri leads the all-time series 5-3 and had taken three consecutive prior to last season.

Texas Tech defeated a one-loss Missouri team in 2010 by the score 24-17 in Lubbock; however that is Tech's only win in the last four meetings that the Tigers have owned by a 158-86 margin.

This game is in Columbia and Missouri is hot. Tech certainly isn't.

Prediction: Missouri 45 Texas Tech 31

Tommy Tuberville

I thought I'd take this opportunity to introduce you to Tech head coach Tommy Tuberville.

Tuberville is a seasoned veteran coach who has held jobs at both Ole Miss and Auburn prior to coming to Texas Tech.

He holds a career record of 123-70 and an even more impressive 7-3 record in bowl games.

His major successes were at Auburn where he was awarded multiple coach of the year awards for leading Auburn to a 13-0 season and a Sugar Bowl victory in 2004.

Tuberville holds a 13-10 record in this his second season at the helm in Lubbock.