Lubbock, TX (Best E Casino) - The seventh-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders will attempt to remain undefeated as they play host to the Nebraska Cornhuskers in a Big 12 Conference clash.
Nebraska opened the season with three straight victories over weak non- conference opponents, but the team has dropped back-to-back decisions against tougher opposition. Last weekend's game was simply embarrassing, as Missouri crushed the Huskers in Lincoln by a 52-17 final. This week's game marks the first on the road for Nebraska.
As for Texas Tech, it opened the season with four consecutive double-digit victories over lackluster non-conference foes, so last week's matchup with league rival Kansas State figured to be the first true test of the season for the Red Raiders. They were completely dominant in that tilt, posting a 58-28 decision over the Wildcats on the road. Texas Tech owns its highest ranking in 32 years and can become bowl eligible with a victory this weekend.
Nebraska owns a 7-2 advantage in the all-time series with Texas Tech, but the Red Raiders have won the last two meetings. In 2004, the Red Raiders beat the Huskers by a staggering 70-10 final.
The Cornhuskers finished with a mere 17 points against Missouri last weekend, and one of the two touchdowns came on the final play of the contest, long after the outcome had been decided. Nebraska posted 369 total yards in the clash, a respectable total, but the ground attack accounted for only 79 yards on 35 attempts. The Cornhuskers were 12-of-19 on third down conversion attempts, but they turned the ball over twice. Joe Ganz completed 26-of-38 passes for 290 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Todd Peterson led the receivers with seven catches for 81 yards, and Menelik Holt had five grabs for 67 yards and a touchdown.
Overall this season, Nebraska is averaging 33.4 ppg and 410.6 total ypg. The Huskers are generating 270.4 ypg through the air, and Ganz has tossed nine touchdown passes against five interceptions while completing 65.5 percent of his tosses. Nate Swift has three receiving scores, and Marlon Lucky has run for four touchdowns.
Nebraska yielded 52 points last weekend to Missouri through the first three quarters, and the Tigers were kind enough to "call off the dogs" in the final frame. Missouri rolled up 462 total yards, posting over 200 yards both on the ground and through the air. The Huskers surrendered three passing scores and three rushing scores, and the defense looked completely helpless for much of the contest. Sure, Mizzou is arguably the best offensive team in the nation, but it is still hard to believe that Nebraska was pushed around so easily.
Opponents are scoring 26.0 ppg against the Cornhuskers, who are yielding 376.2 total ypg. They have limited foes to 3.6 ypc on the ground, but they are giving up 12.7 yards per pass completion. Clearly, the big plays through the air have really hurt the squad. Glenn Cody paces Nebraska with 35 total tackles, and he has made four TFLs.
Texas Tech leads the nation in passing and total offense, thanks in large part to quarterback Graham Harrell and his favorite target, Michael Crabtree. Harrell connected on 38-of-51 passes against Kansas State for 454 yards and six touchdowns last week. In the process, he became the program's all-time leader in passing yards with 12,709, breaking the record of Kliff Kingsbury. "I wouldn't say that he (Harrell) is the best quarterback I've ever coached, but I would say he is the best in the nation this year," said Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach after the contest.
Crabtree, who is just a sophomore, had 107 receiving yards against K-State and scored twice. He now has 30 career touchdown receptions, tying him for first all-time at Tech. Lyle Leong had three receiving scores for the Red Raiders in what was a tremendous all-around offensive performance.
While the Texas Tech offense seems to garner most of the headlines, the team's defense put forth a solid effort against Kansas State last weekend, limiting the Wildcats to 296 total yards. Sure, the defense did permit three touchdowns, including two rushing scores, but the group held the Wildcats to 2-of-12 success on third down conversion attempts and played consistent football. "Overall we played pretty good defensively," said defensive end McKinner Dixon. "We have some things to work on. They were able to score a couple touchdowns on us but we will get back to practice and work on the fundamentals."
Opponents are scoring just 18.4 ppg against the Red Raiders, who are holding foes to 336.0 total ypg. They have been tough against the run, permitting only 102.6 ypg and 3.2 ypc. The pass defense has surrendered a rather high amount of yardage, but opponents have been forced to abandon the run rather early in an attempt to cut into some major deficits.
