College Game Preview: Texas Tech vs Texas

Remember when the Texas Longhorns playing on Thanksgiving was a big deal? Usually ranked in the top 20 and playing for a BCS Bowl bid? Well times sure have changed in the past six years. The Longhorns at 4-6 have run into some bad luck, especially in two games early on but even a 6-4 team is nothing to be excited about. However it’s Thanksgiving and we should be thankful to have football on, right?

Oct 10, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns linebacker Malik Jefferson (46) in action against the Oklahoma Sooners during Red River rivalry at Cotton Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The Longhorns come into this game with a poor, poor, so very poor rushing defense. On the year the Longhorns are allowing an outrageous 194.2 yards rushing per game! From a school that’s seen so many defensive players enter the ranks of the NFL we’re definitely at a low point in school history. Those numbers are right up Texas Tech’s ally though as their producing 196.8 yards per game on the ground. Even scarier is their passing offense that ranks number two in the country with nearly 400 yards per game.

I know, I’m being tough on the kids from Austin, but they need it and if they’re not tough on themselves they’re going to get blown out by a highly productive Texas Tech team. While Tech’s offense screams danger their defense screams shootout as their even worse than the Longhorns in each defensive category and are ranked 126th overall. That puts them just two spots out of last place, in the entire FBS divison of football. Yikes. If both teams end up with less than 30 points I’ll be floored.

Players to Watch

The Entire Longhorns Secondary

It’s hard to call a secondary “bad” when they’re really just young. However they’ve made some bad mistakes over the season and hopefully they’re ready to take the next step against one of college football’s most prolific passers in Patrick Mahomes. For a guy who averages nearly 400 yards through the air he’s going to give the young secondary plenty of growing opportunities.

DeAndre Washington

Washington is enjoying great success this year as he’s averaging over 6.6 yards per carry and owns over 1500 all-purpose yards along with 14 touchdowns. This Longhorns defense has had success against the run at times, but they struggle keeping pace for four quarters. Washington’s ability to find yards and get down field may prove to be too much for Texas.

Jerrod Heard

It’s about time this guy starts airing the ball out. I get that Texas is averaging 213.9 rushing yards per game and Heard is a large part of that. Without Gray and Foreman the Longhorns are relying on two (highly touted but still) freshman to carry the load. Heard is of course going to have a spy on him all day long and eventually this team is going to have to trust him to throw a few bombs and become a complete quarterback. If Heard can be a true dual threat watch out, the Longhorns might win this one.

Prediction

Shootout, shootout, shootout. The only chance either team has at winning is through the turnover battle and maybe a rare stop or two. With the way Texas has been playing it’s hard for me to say they’ll be that team. Texas Tech wins 48-34