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Five Swing Games For Texas Tech In 2018

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - NOVEMBER 4: Tre King #24 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders finds running room and will score a touchdown during the first half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats on November 4, 2017 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - NOVEMBER 4: Tre King #24 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders finds running room and will score a touchdown during the first half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats on November 4, 2017 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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MANHATTAN, KS – OCTOBER 27: The Kansas State Wildcats run off the field following warm-ups prior to the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium on October 27, 2012 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
MANHATTAN, KS – OCTOBER 27: The Kansas State Wildcats run off the field following warm-ups prior to the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium on October 27, 2012 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Week 11 – at Kansas State

The final swing game of 2018 takes place at yet another Big 12 location in which Texas Tech is currently experiencing a dry spell, Manhattan, Kansas.  In what feels like an all-too-familiar refrain, Texas Tech has not won in Manhattan since 2008.

And in the three games at Snyder Family Stadium since 2008, only the 2016 game was competitive (a 44-38 Texas Tech loss).  Certainly, “The Wizard” Bill Snyder has cast a spell on Kingsbury going 4-1 against Texas Tech since 2013.

In 2018, KSU is not expected to look much different than in most years.  Lacking elite star power and top-end talent, the key will be for the Cats to maximize their potential by playing fundamentally sound football and executing their schemes to near perfection.

That will not be easy this season given that KSU is replacing both coordinators.  But by week-eleven, it could have had plenty of time to hit its stride.

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This is a team replacing 18 starters, including nine on each side of the ball.  That could make them ripe for the picking for a Texas Tech team returning 17 starters.  Still, it would be more likely to exploit that advantage if this game was early in the season.

Like Ames, Iowa, Manhattan is not a terribly imposing atmosphere despite the almost certain sell out from the passionate fan base.  If Texas Tech can play its game and let its explosive athletes dictate the game on offense, the Red Raider defense could be strong enough to finally shut down a mediocre KSU offense.

Beating the Cats could be essential if Texas Tech enters the final two games with five or fewer wins.  It is finally time for Texas Tech to start winning some Big 12 road games outside of Lawrence, Ft. Worth and Austin and this feels like the most likely opportunity this year.

Next: T.J. Vasher Poised To Be Next Great Texas Tech WR

2017 was an unusual year for the Texas Tech football program in that Tech didn’t pull off a huge upset and didn’t suffer a shocking loss.  So there’s reason to believe that 2018 will not follow the same script.  But upsets and letdowns aside, these five swing games could tell the tale of the Red Raiders’ season.

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