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Texas Tech got to 4-0 on the season with wins over Iowa State, New Mexico, Texas State, and Northwestern State. Saturday provides a different kind of challenge, as the Red Raiders welcome the No. 17 Oklahoma Sooners to Jones AT&T Stadium for their Big 12 home opener.
Texas Tech's strength has derived from an unusual source: its defense, which has allowed just 168 yards and 10.8 points per game so far. Of course, it remains Texas Tech, and so the passing numbers have been gaudy. Senior quarterback Seth Doege is averaging 297 yards passing per game with 15 touchdowns against only three interceptions. The Red Raiders was impressive last week, as they pounded the previously undefeated Cyclones in Ames, 24-13.
Oklahoma will need to overcome a number of issues if they are to win Saturday. For one, the Sooners have not won in Lubbock since 2003. They are also smarting from a surprising home loss to Kansas State Sept. 22 and did not look particularly dominant in their one other game against FBS-level competition, a 24-7 win over UTEP. Senior quarterback Landry Jones has completed 63.6 percent of his attempts so far this year with five touchdown passes. Halfback Damien Williams has averaged almost 10 yards per carry, though he did struggle in running for just 34 yards against Kansas State.
Kickoff is set for 2:30 CT. ESPN2 has the television coverage. Oklahoma is a 5-point favorite.