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Texas Tech football: Game by game predictions for 2020 season

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - NOVEMBER 03: Texas Tech Red Raider mascot "Masked Rider (Lyndi Starr) and Cody (horse) lead the team onto the field before the game against the Oklahoma Sooners on November 3, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Oklahoma defeated Texas Tech 51-46. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - NOVEMBER 03: Texas Tech Red Raider mascot "Masked Rider (Lyndi Starr) and Cody (horse) lead the team onto the field before the game against the Oklahoma Sooners on November 3, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Oklahoma defeated Texas Tech 51-46. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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MANHATTAN, KS – NOVEMBER 17: Quarterback Skylar Thompson #10 of the Kansas State Wildcats calls a play in the shotgun during the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images)
MANHATTAN, KS – NOVEMBER 17: Quarterback Skylar Thompson #10 of the Kansas State Wildcats calls a play in the shotgun during the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images) /

@ Kansas State – Win

Texas Tech has plenty of unfavorable streaks that need to end in 2020.  That includes a 4-game losing streak at Kansas State which dates back to 2012.

But this will be the year that run of frustration in The Little Apple finally ends.  That’s because Kansas State isn’t expected to be that great of a team.

Sure, the Wildcats are coming off of an 8-win season in Chris Klieman’s first year.  But in 2020, they have to replace 28 seniors and 15 starters from that squad.

Working in their favor though will be the presence of senior QB Skylar Thompson, a steady if unspectacular QB.  Last year, he passed for 2,315 yards and ran for 405 yards while accounting for 23 total touchdowns.  What’s more, he limited mistakes by throwing only five picks.

But in front of him will be five new starters along the o-line.  Typically a strength of the KSU program, one has to wonder if the new offensive front will be a weakness early in the season.

Defensively, KSU was also hit hard by graduation.  What’s more, their defensive coordinator bolted for Michigan State this offseason.  But they will welcome back productive LB Justin Hughes, a senior who missed all of last year with a torn ACL.

Often, KSU is a program that takes a while to find its footing before rounding into form in the back half of the season.  That could be the case again in 2020 with so many new starters and that’s why Tech will benefit from playing the Cats early in the schedule.  Thus, look for the Red Raiders to finally get the Manhattan monkey off of their back this season.

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