Baylor @ Texas Tech preview
Cotton Bowl
Last Meeting ( Nov 28, 2009 ) Baylor 13, Texas Tech 20
Since it joined the Big 12 Conference, Texas Tech hasn’t had a losing season. Baylor hasn’t had a winning season. Well, things have changed this season.
Baylor (4-1, 1-0 Big 12 South) and Texas Tech (2-2, 0-2) are set to square off Saturday afternoon at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, with the Bears looking to move one game closer to becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 1994.
The Red Raiders, on the other hand, hope to snap a two-game losing streak and continue their streak of bowl appearances since 2000. Texas Tech has a long history of success against Baylor, posting a 14-0 record in the Big 12 era. Seven points, however, decided each of the last two games – 35-28 in 2008 and 20-13 in 2009.
Still, this could be the victory Baylor has been seeking in Art Briles’ third season. The Bears are off to their best start since 2005 and would move atop the South standings with a victory.
Last week, Baylor humiliated Kansas 55-7. Sophomore quarterback Robert Griffin had a career-best 380 passing yards and tied a career high with three touchdown passes. He also rushed for 64 yards and a score. Griffin’s 444 yards of total offense set a school record.
Griffin ranks second in the Big 12 in passing efficiency (151.4), second in total offense (314.4 yards per game) and fifth in passing yards (270.2 per game).
Last week, Griffin had help from his receivers as Josh Gordon and Terrance Williams each had two touchdown receptions.
Defensively, Baylor has excelled in its four victories, holding opponents to an average of 7.3 points a game (two TDs and five field goals). For the season, Baylor has allowed 14.8 points a game.
Texas Tech, meanwhile, will look to quarterback Taylor Potts to get things headed in the right direction and avoid an 0-3 start in conference play. Potts has played well this season, completing 119 of 184 passes for 1,187 yards with 13 touchdowns and three interceptions.
In last week’s 52-38 loss to Iowa State, Potts threw for 377 yards and five touchdowns.
The bigger issue for the Red Raiders, though, is defense. The Cyclones went into the game averaging only 20.2 points a game and ended up scoring 28 in the fourth quarter.
Iowa State quarterback Austen Arnaud finished with four passing touchdowns. On the ground, the Cyclones rushed for 251 yards and two scores.
And the Red Raiders face an even tougher task this week against the versatile Griffin.