Thursday, October 30, 2008

Texas Shootout - Colt McCoy vs. Graham Harrell

#1 Texas @ #7 Texas Tech
Saturday, November 1, 2008 - 8:00 EST - ABC
Jones AT&T Stadium - Lubbock Texas
Texas -6.5


Summary
Texas leads the all-time series 42-14...last year, Texas won 59-43...Texas dominated the time of possession 40 minutes to 20 minutes...the Red Raiders only ran the ball 7 times for 10 yards, but passed for 466 yards...the Longhorns were more balanced as they had 283 yards on the ground and 268 through the air...the Red Raiders last win against Texas was in 2002...

Texas Tech, Penn State, and Utah enter the week with the nation's longest win streak at 10 games...

This will be the fourth in a string of four tough conference opponents for the #1 ranked Texas Longhorns...the Longhorns took care of business last week by beating a tough Oklahoma State team 28-24...QB Colt McCoy can basically secure the Heisman with another impressive performance this week...

The Red Raiders are led by Heisman hopeful, QB Graham Harrell...Harrell has thrown 28 TDs and 5 INTs this season...Harrell is fortunate to be throwing to maybe the best receiver in the nation in sophomore Michael Crabtree...Crabtree has 60 receptions for 794 yards and 14 TDs...Texas Tech's running game is led by Baron Batch (537 yards, 4 TDs) and Shannon Woods (481 yards, 10 TDs)...

Texas Tech made some headlines a few weeks back when they asked Matt Williams to joing the team...the Red Raiders were having an awful time in the kicking department and decided to ask Williams to be their place kicker after he won a halftime promotion during a game this season...

The Red Raiders pass defense is rated third nationally with 14 interceptions...Brandon Williams and McKinner Dixon are team leaders in the sack department...

Quick Numbers
Offensive Numbers
UT - Rushing per game - 183 yards
TT - Rushing per game - 138 yards

UT - Passing per game - 303 yards
TT - Passing per game - 418 yards

Defensive Numbers
UT - Rushing allowed - 69 yards
TT - Rushing allowed - 101 yards

UT - Passing allowed - 265 yards
TT - Passing allowed - 245 yards

- Texas is 5-3 straight up in games played in Lubbock since 1992...
- Over the last 3 years, as a favorite of 3.5 to 10 points, the Longhorns are 7-1 straight up...

Texas Longhorns (8-0) - Head Coach Mack Brown
Here are the Texas game notes for the Texas Tech game...

  • Texas Game Notes


  • Alan Trubow of the Austin American-Statesman writes about former running back, now DE Henry Melton... "Defensive end Brian Orakpo , the teacher, was wondering if his pupil, Henry Melton, could start over and succeed. The lessons were about how to become a good defensive end." ...

  • Alan Trubow


  • Tim Griffin of ESPN's blog network writes about the banged up Texas secondary... "The test for Brown mirrors that for the Texas defense, which will be challenged to stop a Tech offense that ranks first nationally in passing offense, second in total offense and third in scoring. The Red Raiders have scored at least 35 points in every game this season and feature a deep collection of playmakers besides Crabtree. Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp will attempt to counter that offensive firepower with an injury-riddled secondary." ...
  • Tim Griffin


  • Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman writes how the Longhorns will need to establish the run this week... "But if Texas is to get by an excellent Red Raiders team, it will have to devote itself to a clock-eating, chain-moving ground game. Not exclusively, but when it counts." ...
  • Kirk Bohls


  • Texas Tech Red Raiders (8-0) - Head Coach Mike Leach
    Here are the Texas Tech game notes for the Texas game...

  • Texas Tech Game Notes


  • Don Williams of the Lubbock Avalache-Journal writes about the Tech defensive line... "Texas Tech defensive end Jake Ratliff has started every game this season, but when circumstances dictate he doesn’t mind deferring to McKinner Dixon and Brandon Williams. The latter two, statistically speaking, are among the top three pass rushers in the Big 12 Conference." ...
  • Don Williams


  • Adam Zuvanich of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal writes about Texas stud DE Brian Orakpo... "Brian Orakpo’s dream is to win the Heisman Trophy. Only one full-time defensive player has ever won the award - Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson in 1997 - and he also was a punt returner who played a little offense. Another obstacle to Orakpo’s Heisman hopes is teammate Colt McCoy, the Texas quarterback who is widely regarded as the frontrunner." ...
  • Adam Zuvanich


  • Ivan Maisel of ESPN.com writes how Texas Tech has a history of folding in big games... "Now is the time to prove the nation wrong. Under Leach, the Red Raiders are 10-26 against ranked teams, 63-11 against everyone else." ...
  • Ivan Maisel


  • Tim Griffin of ESPN's blog network writes how Tech QB Graham Harrell is preparing for the biggest game of his career... "So much for worrying about satellite shoots, radio shows or teleconferences with the national media. If Harrell wins the Heisman this season he'll do it the old-fashioned way -- by earning it on the field with a big performance over No. 1 Texas and during the rest of the season." ...
  • Tim Griffin


  • The following is a 1:27 clip of Michael Crabtree's performance against Texas A&M this year...



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