Offense – Texas Longhorns
All the things facilities across the athletic play of Colt McCoy, but it surely’s not essentially all about his passing game. He’s a mobile quarterback and with averages of 32 move makes an attempt per game and 40 runs per game (a few of these are McCoy scrambling for yardage), Texas has among the best balances of run and move within the nation. And that is the important thing. As a protection, the one attainable approach you’ll be able to beat Texas is to confuse the offensive line with totally different blitz packages, take away the run early, and comprise McCoy when he will get flushed out of the pocket. The phrase, “You possibly can’t cease them, you’ll be able to solely hope to comprise them,” applies right here.
Offense – Texas Tech Pink Raiders
Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree are probably the most harmful pair in the whole league, with each gamers on the Heisman listing, and deservedly so. Tech’s offense is third in factors per game, 2nd in yards per game, 1st in move yards per game, and 1st in receptions per game. However Tech fans have seen offensive numbers like this earlier than. What makes this Mike Leach Texas Tech workforce so particular is that although they solely rush 25 instances per game (third to final within the nation), they’re nonetheless placing up 138 dashing yards per game. It’s on this equation that lies the key to Tech successful this game. Within the first half, if Texas Tech can maintain the Texas protection trustworthy with just some good runs, the passing game will stay open lengthy sufficient to maintain the game shut. Maintain it shut, and I actually imagine Texas Tech has the higher hand with it is dominant power-offense.
Protection – Texas Longhorns
The defensive entrance for the Longhorns could also be the very best they’ve ever had. Orakpo, Houston, Miller, and Melton (does not that sound like a regulation agency?) have a mixed 25.5 tackles for loss leading to a complete of 118 yards that they’ve value opposing groups. Deeper than that, nevertheless, if this workforce has a weak point, it’s the secondary. They solely have 5 interceptions on the 12 months and have given up 335 passing yards per game. Granted, they play within the pass-happy Massive 12, however they haven’t confronted as dominant a duo as Harrell and Crabtree. Pressure on Harrell will certainly be key, however getting via one of many hardest offensive strains in football will not be simple. If Harrell has time to move, his extensive receivers will discover a option to get open and the Texas secondary will lastly be uncovered for what it’s.
Protection – Texas Tech Pink Raiders
Texas Tech will be unable to cease Texas like Oklahoma State did, however with an offense just like the Pink Raiders have, it could not matter. A few huge stops will likely be key. Since getting Texas to third down could occur seldom, stopping McCoy in these conditions goes to be enormous. Watch for the Texas Tech secondary to key on Jordan Shipley, Texas’ big-time extensive receiver, particularly within the Pink Zone. If they will comprise the receivers, Tech’s spy on McCoy higher not lose containment or the protection will not matter. The Texas Tech secondary, by the best way, has 14 takeaways on the season, good for third within the nation. If they will get a pair extra in opposition to Colt “80% completion proportion” McCoy, they’re going to be in fairly fine condition.
Particular Groups:
Texas positively has the upper-hand within the punt game (if anybody ever punts), however I do not suppose punting goes to be an element on this game in any respect. Discipline place will likely be determined extra by the returns than the kicks, and most certainly, kick returns reasonably than punt returns. Within the kick return class, the 2 groups from the Lonestar State are nearly lifeless even with Texas having a greater kick return common by four-tenths of some extent. And so, short and candy, except a punt or discipline block happens, particular groups actually should not be an excessive amount of of an element 폰테크.
Key Matchups:
DE Brian Orakpo vs. LT Rylan Reed
This will likely be THE matchup of the game, as no person this 12 months has been in a position to cease Orakpo. However no person is Texas Tech, both, and Reed is among the greatest within the game. That is the type of battle that you just at all times hear announcers say is received “within the trenches,” which, for these of you who could not get it, is a battle metaphor. This will likely be a mini-war within the midst of a significant battle.
WR Michael Crabtree vs. The Whole Texas Secondary
It’s going to take the whole secondary, working collectively, speaking completely, and continuously in movement to even start to comprise what’s perhaps the very best expertise the extensive receiver place has ever seen. An announcer final week in contrast him to Larry Fitzgerald, which I believe is apt…sadly for the Longhorns.
QB Colt McCoy vs. QB Graham Harrell
Although they don’t seem to be immediately battling on the sphere, each of those unimaginable abilities can have a nationwide stage through which to showcase their abilities…and the winner could find yourself taking home the Heisman. Whichever quarterback wins this game positively has the upper-hand within the race.
Ksquared Prediction:
Right here we go: two enormous Massive 12 groups, two nice coaches, two powerhouse offenses, and three Heisman candidates. Orakpo and the Texas D-line must get pressure on Harrell to be able to cease the Pink Raider offense and the Tech senior duo of McBath and Charbonnet might want to convey down an interception or two to maintain McCoy on his toes. If both quarterback completes over 75% of his passes and finds seams all through the game, the opposite workforce will lose. Although offense is the specialty on this game, protection is the important thing. Because it comes down the stretch into the fourth quarter, I count on Tech to be down by a landing or so, however their pass-first persona will serve it is goal completely as they move their option to a come-from-behind victory.
Texas Tech 47 – Texas 45
