Shootout on the Llano Estacado

[The Judge]

Texas (8-0) at Texas Tech (8-0), Saturday - 8:00 EST
Well boys, this ought to be a good one. For the first time since these two teams began playing each other in 1928, both Big 12 South teams enter this game undefeated. Additionally each team’s quarterback is very much in the race for the Heisman Trophy with unbelievable passing completion percentages at this point in the season. Texas is the undisputed No. 1 team in the country but unless they can find a way to slow down Tech’s prolific passing attack, that could easily change this week.

This is biggest game in the history of Texas Tech football and you better believe that the Red Raider faithful are eager to welcome the ESPN College GameDay crew who will be in Lubbock for the first time in their 15 years of covering the best college football game of the week. This will the third time in four weeks that GameDay has covered a Longhorn game which has happened only once before during the 2006 Ohio State season.

College football fans have grown accustomed to seeing Texas Tech quarterbacks put up ridiculous passing numbers year after year as HC Mike Leach’s aerial schemes have had his Red Raiders leading the nation in passing five of the past six seasons. Tech QB Graham Harrell has now broken school records for career yards and TD passes set by Cliff Kingsbury who was Leach’s quarterback 1999 through 2002. Harrell is also within range of at least three more of Kingsbury’s career records as he continues to flourish in Leach’s system.

Colt McCoy, Texas’ quarterback, is also having a stellar season having completed his passes at an incredible 82% rate and has run the ball for 412 yards at 5.2 yards per carry. His ability to scramble in the backfield and throw the ball on the run has kept opponent’s defenses off balance and consistently created opportunities for big plays. McCoy has played this best football against the Raiders and has absolutely owned them during his first two years as Texas’ play caller. In those two games he has completed 42 out of 61 passes for 524 yards and eight touchdowns, and has carried the ball 20 times for 119 yards and two touchdowns. Last year he had six total touchdowns in a 59-43 winning effort in Austin.

With these two high powered offenses facing off, this game will come down to which defense is best able to keep the opposing quarterback in check. Finally, the Tech team has a decent defense but they are far from imposing. In Week Two, freaking Nevada dropped 488 passing yards on them which is more than double the yardage that they have put up against any other team. Three weeks ago Nebraska went into Lubbock and passed for 357 yards (also their best effort this season) and played toe-to-toe with Tech before losing in overtime. Even the lowly Texas A&M Aggies led at the half against the Red Raiders.

In contrast, Texas had not allowed an opponent to score more that 14 points until they began their recent three game stretch against Top 10 talent and Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has done an incredible job of molding a good defense out of this young Texas squad. Muschamp will mix in different looks, especially nickel and dime coverages as he knows that limiting yards after the catch and pressuring Harrell is the key to beating this team. The Red Raider offensive line has given their quarterback all the time in the world and has allowed only three sacks this season. That’s great when you are playing middle of the road teams but the Longhorn defense has excelled at getting to opposing QB’s with 29 sacks, second best in the nation. Throw off Harrell’s timing of the offense and you stand a great chance of stopping this team as everything they do is based on rhythm.

The Longhorns has played the toughest schedule in the country his season and has beaten three teams in the Top 11 in as many weeks. Tech on the hand has faced only one decent team in Kansas which resulted in a 63-21 road victory for them last week. Prior to that game, the Red Raiders were barely good enough to get by Nebraska and Texas A&M, neither of which have shown much in any of their other games. Texas’ game is head and shoulders above both of those teams yet for some reason, many are predicting that they will lose this game in Lubbock.

In answer to that idea, I will borrow from the famous lyrics of legendary Lubbock native Buddy Holly; ''That'll be the day.''

[YeahBoyHowdy]

NICE write up JUDGE. this should be one of the more entertaining games of the season. thanks for posting it.

[The General]

I think everyone wants to see a good ol shootout here. I think many also want to see an upset. The defensive line play of Texas vs the Tech Off line is the biggest key (Usually is and also vice versa), IMO so let's prepare for a great Saturday night battle.

GL, guys