BIG 12 POWER RANKINGS: WEEK 7

Lots of action this week. But no really surprises. Here's where the Big 12 stands after 7

1. TCU

TCU took care of business against Kansas State and remain the only unbeaten team in the Big 12.

2. OKLAHOMA STATE

The Orange Mullet Heads took care of Baylor 59-16. They may sneak back into the top depending on how TCU does moving forward.

3. OKLAHOMA

The Sooners held off Texas at the Cotton Bowl. OU has some issues on defense that may become a problem as they head into the meat of the schedule.

4. WEST VIRGINIA

The Mountaineers came back and beat Texas Tech in the fourth quarter after being down 17-28 at the half. This could be a turning point for West Virginia but it will be hard to beat anyone with only 44 yards rushing.

5. TEXAS TECH

The Red Raiders played better than West Virginia in almost every aspect of the game (except kicking) but collapsed in the fourth to let the ‘Neers back in. This game against Iowa State is a must win and will be crucial in regaining momentum before traveling to Norman in two weeks.

6. IOWA STATE

The Cyclones followed up a win against Oklahoma by absolutely dismantling Kansas. The Cyclones should feel pretty confident heading into Lubbock this week

7. TEXAS

The Longhorns kept it close but couldn't pull off the upset against Oklahoma. It won't get easier as the Horns take on Oklahoma State this week.

8. KANSAS STATE

Kansas State just can't get anything going against TCU. The Wildcats just don't have any way to replace Ertz and sadly their season might be effectively over.

9. KANSAS

The Jayhawks got blown out at home by Iowa State, which says more about Iowa State than it does about Kansas.

10. BAYLOR

The Bears are 0-6 now. I like to think that it's just as hard to go winless as it is to go undefeated so I think the Bears will get an upset over someone. But karma is a funny thing isn't it.

THREE AND OUT: WEST VIRGINIA

FIRST DOWN

It was a tale of two halves for the offense. The Red Raiders came in swinging as Shimonek and company chalked up four touchdowns in the first half. The second half however things were a different story as a 30 yard touchdown run by Tre King was the only score the Red Raiders could pull off. Four out of the seven drives in the second half ended in punts. Besides a touchdown, the others ended in a missed field goal and an interception. The bright side was that the running game still looked improved as the Red Raiders averaged 5.8 yards a carry on the ground.

SECOND DOWN

The defense continued to be a bright spot this season. Tech held West Virginia to just 44 total yards rushing. Jah'Shawn Johnson was the leading tackler for the Red Raiders with six solo tackles and one tackle for a loss. The d-line kept the pressure on Grier and recorded four sacks against the Mountaineers. Desmon Smith also had his first interception of the season with a pick late in the third quarter.

THIRD DOWN

Michael Bardon missed three field goals last Saturday. Field goals have been an ongoing issue with Clayton Hatfield out with an injury and this time I believe it cost the game. The most damaging miss came just before halftime when Tech had a chance to go up by two scores and carry the momentum into the second half. While West Virginia ended up winning by more than the nine points that were left off the board, the misses kept Tech from putting the Mountaineers away and turned the momentum in their favor.

AND OUT

It's hard to blame Bardon too much as he was only supposed to be the kickoff specialist this season. To put the situation in perspective, it would be like if the quarterback went down and a wide receiver who played qb in high school was called to replace him. Despite this, Bardon has been solid so far this season. Regardless, if Tech can't find a way to be consistent, then this won't be the last time Tech struggles to hold onto a lead.

LOOKING AHEAD.

The Red Raiders return to the friendly confines to take on the Iowa State Cyclones for homecoming.

PREVIEW: WEST VIRGINIA

GAME INFO

LOCATION: MORGANTOWN, WV

VENUE: MILAN PUSKAR STADIUM

TIME: 11:00 AM CST

WATCH: ESPNU, WatchESPN

LISTEN: TTSN, TUNE IN

TEXAS TECH

RECORD: 4-1

LAST RESULT: W 65-19

WEST VIRGINIA

2017 RECORD: 3-2

2016 RECORD: 10-3

LAST RESULT: L 31-24 AT TCU

SERIES INFO

LAST MEETING: 10-15-2016

LAST RESULT: L 48-17

SERIES RECORD: WVU LEADS 4-2

CURRENT STREAK: WVU (3)

SPREAD

WEST VIRGINIA -3.5

The Red Raiders travel to Morgantown, WV to take on the West Virginia Mountaineers. This is the 7th meeting between the Red Raiders and Mountaineers, who have played every year since West Virginia joined the Big 12 in 2012.

This is the 7th season for West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen who has a record of 49 and 33 with the Mountaineers. Holgerson in was the Texas Tech offensive coordinator from 2005 to 2007 and the inside receivers coach from 2000 to 2004.

WHAT TO WATCH

OFFENSE.

This will be another opportunity for Texas Tech to build some momentum on offense, particularly in the running game. West Virginia allowed 288 rushing yards from Kansas a couple weeks ago and the Mountaineer secondary continues to be a weak point as well.

Look for the offense to come out swinging. With Coutee back and healthy, I would expect Shimonek and company to really pick apart the Mountaineer secondary. The key however, will be for the running game to pick up where they left off in Lawrence. The KU defense was really bad so I wouldn't expect another 300+ day from the running backs. But if they can pull off 3 yards a carry and keep the defense honest, then it should be a good day for the Red Raider offense.

DEFENSE

The West Virginia offense is pretty good. Will Grier passed for 366 yards and 3 touchdowns against a good TCU defense. The Mountaineer running backs put up great numbers against weak opponents but struggled to be productive against TCU.

The key here will be for the front seven to once again stop the run and force West Virginia to become one dimensional.

Turnovers will also be a key. Will Grier has thrown an interception in four out of five games this season and the Red Raider defense come in ranked in the top 10 in takeaways. If this becomes a shootout, winning the turnover margin will be crucial if the Red Raiders hope to come out of Morgantown with a win.

FINAL NOTE

I don't want to call this a must win because I believe it is possible to bounce back if the Red Raiders drop this one. However, with Tech making the AP polls for the first time since 2013, this game is a great opportunity to really set the tone for the rest of the season. If Tech can come out of Morgantown with a win, then the momentum will be all on Tech's suse as they head into the heart of Big 12 play.

PREDICTION

TEXAS TECH 38 WEST VIRGINIA 28

BIG 12 POWER RANKINGS: WEEK 6

Lots of action this week from upsets to blowouts. Here are the power rankings this week.

1. TCU

TCU is now the only unbeaten team in the Big 12. They played a great game against a tough West Virginia team. Their schedule lightens up until November so if TCU can take care of business, they should be in good shape to take a trip to Arlington in December.

2. OKLAHOMA STATE

The pokes were off this week but the win against Texas Tech looks pretty good after this week. Iowa State's upset of OU doesn't hurt either.

3. OKLAHOMA

The Sooners were upset at home by Iowa State. I think most of us thought that the Baylor game was a fluke for the most part, but now I wonder if Boomer Sooner is on the verge of a major melt down.

4. WEST VIRGINIA

The Mountaineers lost another close one to the Horned Frogs. Since TCU is doing good right now, West Virginia will stay at #4. Next week will be a huge indication of where this team is.

5. TEXAS TECH

The Red Raiders earned a spot in the top 25 with a blowout win over Kansas. Next week will be huge as the Raiders travel to take on a wounded West Virginia team.

6. IOWA STATE

The Cyclones defied odds and took out Oklahoma on the road. Iowa State has a chance to build some momentum against Kansas before facing Texas Tech on the road in two weeks.

7. TEXAS

The Longhorns pulled off a tough overtime win against Kansas State. They still have a lot to work out offensively, but the Horns needed this one before the Red River Shootout next week.

8. KANSAS STATE

Kansas State appears to be on the verge of collapse. It won't get easier for the Wildcats as they take on TCU this week at home.

9. KANSAS

The Jayhawks got blown out at home by Texas Tech. They still have one thing Baylor Doesn't… a win.

10. BAYLOR

I'll quote John Lennon in honor of his birthday. “Instant Karma” has a hold of Baylor who now has to finish 6-1 to become bowl eligible. It doesn't get easy this week as the Bears have to take on Oklahoma State in Stillwater.

THREE AND OUT: KANSAS

FIRST DOWN.

The Red Raiders ran the ball about as well as we've seen them in recent years. Texas Tech rushed for 313 yards at 6 yards per carry. Stockton was the leading rusher with 161 rushing yards and one touchdown. Nisby also recorded 93 yards and four touchdowns. Nisby had previously been underutilized due to issues learning the playbook, so this is a step in the right direction. As Nisby progresses, we could really see a lot of opportunities not just in the run, but in the play action pass as well.

SECOND DOWN.

The defense showed up once again and I'm convinced that creating turnovers and stopping the run is now the norm for Texas Tech. The Red Raiders held Kansas to 112 rushing yards, the same team that rushed for 367 yards a week ago. Jordyn Brookes was the leading tackler with 10 tackles. The Tech defense also came away with four turno (two interceptions and two fumble recoveries) which once again puts Tech in the top 10 in creating turnovers.

THIRD DOWN.

Special Teams once again was a little shaky. Bardon missed a 44 yarder in the third quarter and struggled with the kickoffs early on. Freshman Matthew Cluck made a 26 yard field goal in garbage time. We'll see if that prompts any changes before West Virginia as I am losing faith that Clayton Hatfield will return at all this season.

AND OUT

Jett Duffey did not make the trip to Lawrence last week. Kingsbury said in the post game press conference that Duffey was dealing with a sore arm. While a lot of fans were quick to assume that Duffey was having disciplinary issues. While Kingsbury is not one to call out a players off the field issues, I am inclined to believe that there truly is nothing going on. While Kingsbury never says too much, he usually labels these as  “internal team issues”. But only time will tell.

LOOKING AHEAD

Texas Tech will travel to Morgantown to take on the West Virginia Mountaineers.

PREVIEW: KANSAS

GAME INFO

LOCATION: LAWRENCE, KS

VENUE: MEMORIAL STADIUM

TIME: 11:00 AM CST

WATCH: FS1, FOX SPORTS GO

LISTEN: TTSN, TUNE IN

TEXAS TECH

RECORD: 3-1

LAST: L 41-34 VS OKLAHOMA STATE

KANSAS

2017 RECORD: 1-3

2016 RECORD: 2-10

LAST RESULT: L 56-34 AT WEST VIRGINIA 

SERIES INFO

LAST MEETING: 9-29-16

LAST RESULT: W 55-19

SERIES RECORD: TTU LEADS 17-1

CURRENT STREAK: TTU 10 GAMES

SPREAD

TEXAS TECH -16.5

The Red Raiders look to bounce back on the road against Kansas this Saturday. Kansas comes off a bye week and hopes to bounce back after a loss against West Virginia, a game that was much closer than the final score indicated.

WHAT TO WATCH

OFFENSE.

The Kansas defense is atrocious. That being said the Red Raider offense has struggled in Lawrence the last few trips going back to 2012. This will be a good opportunity hopefully to correct some issues, specifically in the offensive line. Expect Kansas to try to take advantage of what was a pretty weak point last week. Tech should be able to handle anything the Jayhawks throw at them however and I would expect to see a much improved running game from Tech.

DEFENSE

Kansas was able to put 34 points against West Virginia two weeks ago and most of that came on the ground. Khalil Herbert recorded 291 yards and two touchdowns against the Mountaineers and I’d expect the Jayhawks to try to pound Tech on the ground. If the linebackers do their job (and I fully expect them to), and force Kansas to try to beat Tech through the air, then this should be a very successful day for the Red Raiders.

FINAL NOTE

Texas Tech should win this game, and win it convincingly. After a tough loss like last week I would expect Shimonek and company to play with a lot of emotion and this could be a chance to make a statement and get back on track. If Tech plays flat however, it could be difficult to get back in a groove before traveling to Morgantown in two weeks.

PREDICTION

TEXAS TECH 52 KANSAS 17

EAT AND EXPLORE: LAWRENCE KS

EAT

THE ROOST

With an 11 am kickoff you'll want to get a good breakfast before the game. The Roost is a great local spot that offers traditional American fare. Menu items include everything from pancakes and french toast, to corned beef hash and even a campfire breakfast with eggs, cornbread and beans. The Roost also has a coffee bar and bakery, as well as a full service bar.

THE BURGER STAND

While you can't visit Lawrence without trying Free State Brewing Company, the Burger Stand is definitely worth a visit. Menu items include a traditional burger with Wisconsin cheddar, a kobe burger with red onions and truffle butter, and Nathan's Hot Dogs. Don't forget the fries, which come in original, cajun, truffle and even poutine.

SYLAS & MADDY’S

This ice cream parlor is a must try according to locals. Patrons swear by their waffle cones and they have flavors ranging from all the classic to snickers, bubblegum and orange sorbet.

EXPLORE

The Unmistakably Lawrence website offers a great picture of some great things to do before and after the game.

Downtown Lawrence, specifically Massachusetts Ave, is the food and shopping hub of the city. Some great stops include the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area, which is a museum dedicated to the early settlers of the area.

Just south of Lawrence is Clinton Lake, which offers 7,000 miles of boating, fishing and hiking.

BIG 12 POWER RANKINGS: WEEK 5

After a light but eventful weekend, here's where the Big 12 stands after five.

1.TCU

TCU had a bye week last weekend, but had an impressive win over Oklahoma State two weeks ago. The pokes win over Texas Tech only helps the Purple Frogs case.

  

2. OKLAHOMA

The Sooners were off as well last week. They played Baylor a little too close for comfort two weeks ago. Nonetheless, Boomer Sooner is still unbeaten and will have Iowa State at home this week to work out the kinks.

3. OKLAHOMA STATE

The Pokes came out with a tough win on the road against Texas Tech. The Cowboy defense looked improved from two weeks ago but it will still be an uphill battle if the Cowboys want to make it to the College Football Playoff.

4. WEST VIRGINIA

The Mountaineers were off as well. They have a tough test this week at TCU and this game should uncover a lot about both teams.

5. TEXAS TECH

Texas Tech played their hearts out against Oklahoma State but couldn’t come up with the win. The defense did show a lot of promise against what is probably the best offense in the Big 12. If Tech can work out some offensive line issues then they might become a real threat in the big 12 this year.

6. KANSAS STATE

Kansas State took care of business against Baylor. The Wildcats ran the ball well but Ertz only went 7/17 passing which will be trouble if they run into a team who can play effective run defense.

7. TEXAS

The Horns came out of Ames with a tough win last thursday. Texas still has a lot of issues to work out on offense but played a good game on defense. Texas will have a chance to improve at home against Kansas State, but will have to play clean mistake free football against Bill Snyder,

8. IOWA STATE

The Cyclones lost a tough one at home against Texas. Iowa State’s defense played great against the Longhorns, but 10 total yards rushing will not win you many games.

9. KANSAS

The Jayhawks were off this week but played a decent game against West Virginia in the week prior. The Jayhawks D is atrocious however and I don't expect them to improve much before Texas Tech comes in this weekend.

10. BAYLOR

I gave the Bears credit for playing Oklahoma as close as they did, but after a loss to Kansas State, Baylor now sits at 0-5. The bears can all but say goodbye to the postseason at this point. Going winless is about as hard as going undefeated in my opinion and I predict the Bears will get an upset against someone this season.

THREE AND OUT: OKLAHOMA STATE

FIRST DOWN

Defense played well against what is probably the best passing offense in the Big 12 and probably the country. Apart from a couple of breakout runs by Mason Rudolph, Texas Tech’s front seven managed to keep the Oklahoma State running attack in check. Dakota Allen was the leading tackler for the Red Raiders, recording 8 total tackles. The biggest challenge of the night was undoubtedly trying to cover the Cowboys receiving corps, however, I thought the secondary did well. Damarcus Fields had a crucial pick six early in the game that may have prevented Oklahoma State from really breaking away early. The cornerbacks actually did a pretty good job of covering the receivers who just continued to make openings and difficult catches. At the end of the day, Tech needed the defense to give the team a chance to win and that's what they did. You can't ask for much more than that, especially against an offense like Oklahoma State.

SECOND DOWN.

The offense played well but failed to make crucial plays when they needed it most. The Red Raiders came back from a 17 point deficit to tie the game. The defense then made a crucial stop forcing a missed field goal to give Tech the ball with less than six minutes left and a chance to run down the clock and win. An earlier injury had taken Keke Coutee out of the game and without his presence on the field, Oklahoma State was able to tighten up the coverage on Cantrell. Shimonek tried to throw to TJ Vasher on fourth down, but a miscommunication caused him to run the wrong route.

THIRD DOWN.

The offensive line may have been the most frustrating part of the game. On the one hand (and I could be wrong) I didn't count a single penalty against the offensive line, which was a huge issue against Houston. On the other hand they just couldn't do anything against Oklahoma State's front seven. The Cowboys  recorded one sack and six tackles for a loss. The running game suffered tremendously from the lack of production and only managed 54 yards total rushing (2.1 yards per carry). The offensive line was more productive against what was a better pass rush against Houston and did manage to clean up the penalties this week. IF THEY COULD JUST PUT IT ALL TOGETHER then we would be in really good shape. Fortunately, this is a young group and they do seem to be progressing reasonably fast. Hopefully they can use this week against Kansas to work out the kinks before West Virginia.

AND OUT.

Last week Tech struggled in the kicking game. Kingsbury said last week that there was a plan to use Ewton for the short kicks and Bardon for the longer ones (think Matt Williams and Donny Caronna back in the day). Ewton was incredibly ineffective and missed two field goals. This week Bardon took over all kicking duties and the result was much more effective as Bardon went 2/2. Kingsbury accommodated Bardon by taking a delay of game penalty in each of his field goal attempts to give him a better angle (something Oklahoma State did not do and suffered two missed field goals because of it). It looks like finally the kicking game will be ok now without Clayton Hatfield.

LOOKING AHEAD…

Texas Tech travels to Lawrence Kansas to take on the Kansas Jayhawks.

PREVIEW: OKLAHOMA STATE

GAME INFO

LOCATION: LUBBOCK, TX

VENUE: JONES AT&T STADIUM

TIME: 7:00 PM CST

WATCH: FOX, FoxSportsGO

LISTEN: TTSN, TuneIn

TEXAS TECH

RECORD: 3-0 (0-0)

LAST RESULT: W 27-24 AT HOUSTON

OKLAHOMA STATE

2017 RECORD: 3-1 (0-1)

2016 RECORD: 10-3 (7-2)

LAST RESULT: L 38-20 VS TCU

SERIES INFO

LAST MEETING: 11-12-16

LAST RESULT: L 45-44

SERIES RECORD: TTU LEADS 21-20-3

CURRENT STREAK: OSU 8

SPREAD

OSU -9.5

The Red Raiders open up conference play against the #15 Oklahoma State Cowboys under the lights on Saturday September 30th. This will be the 45th meeting between the Cowboys and Red Raiders. Oklahoma State currently holds an 8 game winning streak going back to 2009.

Oklahoma State looks to bounce back after a 44-31 loss to TCU at home last week. The Cowboys will likely have to win out if they still want a chance to realize there playoff ambitions. This is the 12th season for head coach Mike Gundy. Gundy has a record of 107-51 with his alma mater.

WHAT TO WATCH

OFFENSE

The offensive line will need to play clean. Texas Tech racked up 12+ penalties last week, most of those being false starts. While Tech has clear advantage over the Cowboy defense, they can't afford to shoot themselves in the foot. The offensive was heavily penalized against Eastern Washington. However they really cleaned it up against Arizona State so we know they are more than capable dispite being a fairly young unit.

Oklahoma State has a porous run defense so this will be a good opportunity to run a more balanced offense and control the game. Last week Oklahoma State gave up 238 rushing yards to the Horned Frogs so if all goes well, expect Stockton and King to have another big day. In a game between two of the best passing teams in the country, in may come down to whoever can run the ball more effectively.

Defense.

This will be a tough test for the defense as Oklahoma State will bring one of the best offenses Tech will face all year. The Red Raiders will need to put the pressure on Mason Rudolf with the pass rush. Oklahoma State's offensive line is suffering from the injury bug and Rudolf was turnover prone when on the run. If Tech can take advantage and bring consistent pressure then the Red Raiders will have a chance to force more turnovers against the Cowboys.

It will also be important to stop the run and make the Cowboys one dimensional. Oklahoma State has been inconsistent in running the ball and so this provides another opportunity for the defensive front seven to show what they can do.

FINAL NOTE.

Last week Texas Tech missed two field goals with Clayton Hatfield still sidelined with an injury. Kingsbury said there was a plan originally for Bardon to handle the long kicks and Ewton to manage the short field goals. It was clear this plan didn't work and I think we can expect Bardon to handle all kicking duties at least until Hatfield makes it back.

PREDICTION

TEXAS TECH 45 OKLAHOMA STATE 42

BIG 12 PREDICTIONS: WEEK 5

TEXAS @ IOWA STATE

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

JACK TRICE STADIUM

AMES IOWA

SPREAD: TEXAS -6.5

This is an interesting matchup. Texas played well against #4 USC but couldn't hold on in overtime. Iowa State is much improved from last year particularly on offense. Jack Trice will be hopping Thursday night which will make for a tough road game for the Horns. Texas is more than capable of winning on the road but I think they still have too many issues to work out offensively.

PREDICTION: ISU 45 UT 44

----------------------

BAYLOR @ KANSAS STATE

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

BILL SNYDER FAMILY STADIUM

MANHATTAN KANSAS

SPREAD: K-STATE -16.5

Baylor played a great game against Oklahoma last week and seems to have figured some things out both offensively and defensively. Kansas State had a disappointing loss at Vanderbilt two weeks ago but have since had a week off. The Bears will have to go on the road and giving Bill Snyder an extra week to prepare will be like trying to put out a wildfire with a watering can.

PREDICTION: KSU 28 BU 13

BIG 12 POWER RANKINGS: WEEK 4

Lots of action despite byes for three teams this week. Here's how the Big 12 stands after four weeks.

1. TCU 

The purple frogs shocked the country after taking down the pokes 44-31 in Stillwater.

    

2. OKLAHOMA.

Boomer Sooner is still undefeated, but there was no way they could stay on top after letting Baylor play as close as they did. Barely winning 49-41 against a team that hasn't won since the Obama administration isn't a spanking by anyone's definition.

       

3. OKLAHOMA STATE.

Last week I was debating putting the pokes at #1, but didn't because Oklahoma State hadn't played anyone yet and I didn't want to jump the gun. It turns out I may have been right after the Frogs picked off Mason Rudolph twice and ran for 238 yards against a porous Cowboy defense.

    

4. WEST VIRGINIA

West Virginia stays in place after taking care of business on the road against Kansas. Although defense may prove to be a problem for West Virginia later on as the ‘Neers allowed 34 points from a struggling Kansas Offense.

5. TEXAS TECH

The Good Guys ended Houston's 16 game home winning streak while playing in the world's largest sauna. Defense was the star and Tech finished with 5 turnovers against Houston.

6. KANSAS STATE

The Wildcats of the Little Apple were off last week and unfortunately will have to live with the taste of defeat for another week.

7. TEXAS

The Horns were off this week but should be feeling good after taking the #4 Trojans to overtime. Next week should be a good indication of where Texas stands when they travel to Ames to take on Iowa State.

8. IOWA STATE

The Cyclones also had a bye this week. They have a chance at an upset this week when the Longhorns come to town.

9. BAYLOR

I'll give credit where credit is due. Baylor played a surprisingly great game against Oklahoma and therefore the Bears are allowed to move up from last place. They couldn't pull off the upset and so just like Generalissimo Francisco Franco… Baylor is still dead.

10. KANSAS

The Jayhawks did manage to put 34 points on what was one of the best defenses in the Big 12 last year. However they still got blown out at home and that's enough to land them in last place this week.

THREE AND OUT: HOUSTON

The Red Raiders beat Houston on the road and start the season 3-0. Here's the post game three and out.

FIRST DOWN

The defense took a huge step forward this week. As of today, Texas Tech ranks #2 in forced turnovers and #43 in total defense. Take a moment and let that sink in because for the last three seasons Tech has consistently ranked in the bottom three in defense.

The Red Raiders recorded five turnovers against the Cougars in the form of three fumbles and and a pair of interceptions by Jordyn Brooks and Dakota Allen. The defense also managed to hold Houston to 110 rushing yards after being dead last in run defense last year.

SECOND DOWN

Offensively, the Red Raiders had a decent day. Shimonek went 29/45 for 321 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Keke Coutee was the leading receiver with 11 catches for 161 yards and one touchdown.

Despite the pressure from Ed Oliver and the Cougar defensive line, Tech was able to average 6.1 yards per carry for 200 total yards rushing. Stockton led the way with 10 carries for 102 yards and one receiving touchdown. Trè King was right behind with 9 carries for 98 yards. Nisby only had two touches for two yards but one of those was good for a touchdown. Nibsy's limited action was possibly due to a turf toe injury from a couple weeks ago.

THIRD DOWN

The biggest blemish in what was an otherwise solid offensive outing was a drop by Derrick Willies inside the 20 which would have resulted in a touchdown. There was also an interception which bounced off of Willies hands and resulted in a Houston touchdown drive.

Another huge issue was the missed field goals by the freshmen Michael Ewton, who went 1/3. Clayton Hatfield was still out with an injury sustained in fall camp. Ewton was solid with extra points against Eastern Washington but it looked like the heat and the pressure may have gotten to him. With any luck, Hatfield will be back for Oklahoma State. If not, it will be hard to overcome missed field goals if Ewton isn't on his game by Saturday.

AND OUT

Penalties were also a huge issue particularly from the offensive line. False starts were rampant in Houston and I think the heat and humidity may have been a factor for a unit that played a very clean game against Arizona State last week. Defensively, penalties were cleaned up after being an issue last week.

On a final note. Vaughnte Dorsey is back in Lubbock after being treated for a concussion in Houston. Kingsbury said on Sunday that Dorsey “feels great” and they will see “where it goes from here”. 

PREVIEW: HOUSTON

GAME INFO:

LOCATION: HOUSTON TX

VENUE: TDECU STADIUM

TIME: 11:00 AM CST

WATCH: ABC/ESPN2, WatchESPN

LISTEN: TTSN, TUNEIN

TEXAS TECH

RECORD: 2-0

LAST RESULT: W 52-45 VS ARIZONA STATE

HOUSTON

2017 RECORD: 2-0

2016 RECORD: 9-4

LAST RESULT: W 38-3 VS RICE

SERIES INFO

LAST MEETING: NOVEMBER 27 2010

LAST RESULT: W 35-20

SERIES RECORD: UH LEADS 18-11-1

The Red Raiders travel to Southeast Texas to take on the Houston Cougars on Saturday, September 23rd at TDECU Stadium. This will be the 31st meeting between the former Southwest Conference Foes.

This is the first season for head coach Major Applewhite, who took over for Tom Herman after two seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Cougars.

Houston comes into the matchup 2-0 after a 38-3 shellacking of the Rice Owls. Quarterback Kyle Allen went 31/33 for 309 yards and two touchdowns last week. Senior Linell Bonner was the leading receiver with 10 receptions for 132 yards.

WHAT TO WATCH

OFFENSE:

This will be a good test for Shimonek and company. The Houston defense comes into this matchup with a S&P+ ranking of #20. Last week the Cougars had a defensive efficiency rating of 99.6 against Rice. There's also Ed Oliver, who finished last season with 47 tackles; nearly half of those were tackles for a loss.

The key will be to continue to play smart and efficient football. With the pass rush that we can expect from Oliver, it will be important not only for the offensive line to play well, but also for Shimonek to get the ball away quickly and therefore, there will be less opportunities for long passes down the field. If Tech can be consistent with the run and the short passing game however, they should be able to create opportunities for some big plays.

One thing I did notice when watching Houston vs Arizona a couple weeks ago, was that a lot of players not named Oliver had some issues wrapping up and tackling. If this is the case then this will be a great opportunity for receivers to make plays in the open field. 

DEFENSE:

Houston runs an offense that it a little reminiscent of the early Mike Leach offenses at Tech, meaning they run a lot of screens and short crossing routes. The key will be for the defense to make sure tackles on first contact so the short passes don't break out into big plays. Kyle Allen is solid at quarterback and I wouldn't expect him to make many mistakes. If the defense can put pressure on Allen and force him to throw before he's ready, then they should be able to force a couple of turnovers.

Houston has had a subaverage running game so far this year and so it will be another chance for the front seven to prove it can stop the run. Last week the Cougars finished with only 130 yards against Rice. If all goes well, Tech has a chance to hold another opponent below 100 yards rushing on Saturday.

FINAL NOTE

I was impressed with how improved the offensive line was at reducing penalties. Last week I counted two or three penalties against the offense which is a huge improvement from the 10+ against Eastern Washington. Penalties were a big factor in most of the losses last year and if Tech can continue to play smart disciplined football and if the defense can reduce the unnecessary penalties from last week, the Red Raiders should come out with a win on Saturday.

PREDICTION

TEXAS TECH 42 HOUSTON 32