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Sooners vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders Pick.
Texas Tech Red Raiders (4-2 SU, 4-2 ATS) at No. 3 Oklahoma Sooners (6-0 SU, 4-2 ATS), Saturday October 22nd, 2011. 8:00PM EST, College Football Week 8
Memorial Stadium Norman, Okl
By Jay Horne, NCAA Football Handicapper of Predictem.com
Point Spread: TT +28.5/UO -28.5
Over/Under Total: OFF
Two of the most explosive offenses in the Big 12 will collide this Saturday night when the no. 3 Oklahoma Sooners welcome the Texas Tech Red Raiders into Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners preseason dreams of reaching the BCS National Championship Game have been becoming a bit closer to reality with each passing week this season. Still, the Sooners schedule will be much tougher through the 2nd half of the season starting this Saturday night when the visiting Red Raiders storm into Memorial Stadium.
Texas Tech suffered their 2nd straight loss of the season last week losing to an up and coming Kansas State team 41-34. It was the 2nd straight loss at the hands of a Top 25 opponent for the Red Raiders and they are desperately in search of righting the ship this Saturday night. Fortunately for Texas Tech, they have the proven ability to put up points against any defense in the country. The Red Raiders have not scored less than 34 points in a single game this season including their 2 losses on the season. The Red Raiders passing attack has historically been one of the best groups in America and that is the case again this season. Therefore, expect the Red Raiders offense to be ready to deliver an offensive shootout this Saturday night.
Of course the Red Raiders could benefit from better defensive play as well. In both of the Red Raiders losses this season, the defense has allowed more than 40 points. On the season, the Texas Tech scoring defense ranks 82nd in college football allowing just less than 30 points per game. The defense has relinquished 406 total yards per game(82nd overall) and 219 yards per game on the ground (111th overall). The Red Raiders defense has simply not had much success stopping opposing offenses, which does not bode well when going up against the explosive Sooners offense this Saturday.
Still, the Red Raiders will be poised to contend with the help of their potent passing attack that is averaging 372 yards passing through the air (6th in NCAA) and 533 total yards per game (6th in NCAA). QB Seth Doege has been sensational throwing the football completing 70.7% passing for 2,167 yards for 18 touchdowns and 4 picks on the year. Considering the amount of passing attempts Doege has completed this year, those are simply stellar numbers.
Perhaps even more impressive, Doege has spread the ball around evenly to the Red Raiders talented receiving core. Alex Torres, Eric Ward, and Darrin Moore all have over 300 yards receiving and have combined for 13 touchdowns. Torres leads the team in receiving (381 yards), Ward is the touchdowns machine (8 scores), and Moore is the big play threat (16.1 yards per reception). Therefore, the Red Raiders have the playmakers to present a difficult match-up for any opposing secondary and the Texas Tech offense will attempt to capitalize off those match-ups this Saturday.
For the Sooners, they will bring possibly an even better passing offense to Saturday night’s duel. QB Landry Jones is having a great season completing 67% passing for 2,177 yards with 16 scores and 6 picks. Jones has been the leader of a passing offense that has averaged a strong 373 yards per game through the air this season (5th best in NCAA). Outside of Jones, the passing offense is aided by one of the best wide receivers in the entire nation in Ryan Broyles. Broyles has racked up 815 yards (4th in NCAA) on the season to go along with 9 receiving touchdowns.
To add worry to the Texas Tech defense, the Sooners can also run the ball extremely well behind running back Dominique Whaley. Whaley has racked up 627 yards and 9 touchdowns through the first 6 games of the year while sporting a stout 5.5 yards per carry average. Therefore, the Texas Tech defense will have to worry about stopping the run and the pass this Saturday night as they attempt to deliver a stunning upset to the Sooners when the two teams tangle Saturday night.
Jay’s Pick to Cover the Point Spread: I know the Texas Tech defense is pretty horrible hence the reason Oklahoma enters Saturday night’s game as huge 4 touchdown point favorites. However, this Red Raiders offense is pretty talented and they have the personnel to hang around. I like Texas Tech and all the points.
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