Game Preview: Texas Tech Vs Kansas
Who: The Kansas State Jayhawks and The Texas Tech Red Raiders
Where: Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, Kansas.
How to watch: FS1
When: Saturday, October 7, 11 a.m.
Broadcaster Team: Sean Kelley and Brian Baldinger.
What pregame show to listen to: 1340 The Fan’s Countdown to Kickoff, 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 7.
The Kansas Jayhawks are 1-17 against the Red Raiders all-time. This season they are 1-3 with losses to Central Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. One of those losses is credible. The other two prove Kansas is out of its depth, again, in Big 12 play.
That being said, arguably the toughest place to play in the Big 12 is Lawrence, Kansas. But it's in the conversation for all of the opposite reasons. It's not loud like Stillwater. There isn't a huge crowd like Austin. It's not intimidating like Norman or unexpectedly enthusiastic like Ames.
Lawrence will have 20,000 people in the audience and will be predictably enthusiastic on Saturday against Texas Tech. The Jayhawks are used to playing in that environment, unlike the rest of the Big 12. Kansas used that environment to beat the Longhorns last season. They nearly beat Texas Tech in 2015 until Jah'Shawn Johnson iced the game with a pick-six in the fourth quarter.
In this game, I only have one expectation. And that's a Texas Tech win. I don't need to witness a blow out like I did in week one. There's no revenge like in week two. The team already redeemed themselves in a much tougher environment at 11 a.m. in game three.
The Kliff Kingsbury Red Raider Redemption tour needs only one thing this weekend.
A win.
OFFENSE
Nic Shimonek and the offensive line need to be on the same page this week. Too many times in the first four games this season, Shimonek has looked unsure of the pocket that his offensive line has created for him. The offensive line also needs to be better in the running game, and the play calling needs to be more consistent for the running game to be productive.
Against Houston, the Red Raiders had 200 yards rushing on 33 carries. Over 140 of those yards came on two carries. That doesn't mean the rushing attack stunk on the other 31 carries. All of those carries led to the success of the two long plays.
The Red Raiders only had one play over 30 yards against Oklahoma State. That big-play threat must be there against Kansas, and moving forward.
This is a great game for the Red Raiders to get on track against a Big 12 defense.
DEFENSE
The defense needs to worry about one man: Khalil Herbert.
He rushed for 291 yards against West Virginia.
I think Texas Tech will run man and put everyone near the line of scrimmage and sell-out to stop the run. Dare Kansas to try to beat you through the air. In his short career, the starting quarterback for Kansas, Peyton Bender, has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns.
That trend should continue this weekend.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Don't have any punts blocked.
PREDICTION
The line in the game favors Texas Tech, with the Red Raiders -17.5 point favorites. I think it's close to that spread with Kansas covering on a late touchdown.
36-20.
In a perfect world, this game is 56-10 Texas Tech.
Both of those scores stay under 79, which is the O/U.
That means Vegas expects Texas Tech to win 49-31, which is outrageous.