FACTS & STATS: Site: Jones AT&T Stadium (60,454) — Lubbock, Texas.
Television: FS1. Home Record: WVU 2-1, TTU 1-1. Away Record: WVU 1-0, TTU 1-2.
Neutral Record: WVU 0-1, TTU 0-0. Conference Record: WVU 1-1, TTU 0-2. Series
Record: Texas Tech leads, 2-1.
GAME NOTES: The Texas Tech Red Raiders will try to put an end to their three-
game losing streak on Saturday afternoon when they welcome the West Virginia
Mountaineers to Jones AT&T Stadium for a Big 12 Conference showdown.
WVU won its first conference game of the season last Saturday with a
convincing 33-14 home triumph over Kansas to pull to 1-1 in the league and 3-2
overall. In the Mountaineers’ only previous true road game this season, they
outlasted Maryland 40-37 on Sept. 13.
Texas Tech’s season started off strong with back-to-back wins over Central
Arkansas (42-35) and Texas-El Paso (30-26) before sliding into its current
losing streak. The Red Raiders were no match for nationally-ranked Kansas
State on the road last weekend, losing 45-13 to fall to 0-2 in conference
competition.
The Red Raiders hold a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series with the
Mountaineers, which includes a 37-27 triumph last season in Morgantown.
The Mountaineers’ offense has been potent this season in scoring 36.6 ppg and
ranking 10th in the nation in total offense (552.6 ypg). The squad topped
their average yardage total in last week’s win with 557, showing great balance
with 302 passing and 255 rushing.
Clint Trickett is one of the country’s most prolific passers. He ranks fourth
in FBS in passing yards (1,902) and sixth in completion percentage (.695),
while tossing 10 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Trickett has the good fortune of throwing to Kevin White, who has hauled in 48
passes for an FBS-leading 765 yards and four touchdowns, while eclipsing 100
yards receiving in every game. Mario Alford is a strong complementary option
at receiver with 32 catches for 387 yards and four scores.
The ground game picks up a solid 170.8 ypg, with Rushel Shell (380 yards, four
TDs) the top back.
WVU’s defense has played well enough to support the strong offense, allowing
25.8 ppg and 358.6 ypg, although the unit has only generated three takeaways.
Two of those three takeaways have come thanks to a pair of interceptions by
Daryl Worley, although he is currently serving an indefinite suspension. Other
defensive standouts include Karl Joseph (40 tackles), Nick Kwiatkoski (37
tackles, 6.0 TFL ) and Wes Tonkery (27 tackles, 4.0 TFL, 1.5 sacks, INT).
Texas Tech’s offense has performed well this season in putting up 29.6 ppg and
470.4 ypg, but it is coming off its worst showing of the year in its 13-point,
347-yard, five-turnover performance at K-State.
Davis Webb has been wildly inconsistent. On the one hand, he’s completing 62.2
percent of his passes for more than 320 yards per game and 16 touchdowns, but
his 10 interceptions are tied for fourth most in the nation.
Webb has an outstanding trio of receivers to rely on, with Jakeem Grant (39
receptions, 473 yards, four TDs), Brad Marquez (30 receptions, 382 yards, six
TDs) and Reginald Davis (20 receptions, 255 yards, four TDs) all in the midst
of impressive seasons.
DeAndre Washington leads the rushing attack with 60 carries for 326 yards and
a touchdown, although Texas Tech has 109 fewer rushing attempts than passes.
The Red Raiders’ downfall this season has been the poor play of the defense,
which yields 40.0 ppg and 472.2 ypg.
Sam Eguavoen has a team-high 39 tackles, three of which have come behind the
line of scrimmage. Pete Robertson has 37 tackles and 4.0 sacks and J.J. Gaines
(28 tackles) is active in the turnover battle with an interception and a
fumble recovery.
WVU has played better than Texas Tech, especially recently, but in what should
be a closely-contested and high-scoring matchup, the Red Raiders will feed off
the energy of the home crowd down the stretch to pull it out.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Texas Tech 41, West Virginia 40
