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Texas Tech football: What needs to happen for Red Raiders to upset UT

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - SEPTEMBER 29: Alan Bowman #10 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders warms up before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers on September 29, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. West Virginia defeated Texas Tech 42-34. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - SEPTEMBER 29: Alan Bowman #10 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders warms up before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers on September 29, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. West Virginia defeated Texas Tech 42-34. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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Alan Bowman #10 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders looks to pass the ball during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks on October 20, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Kansas 48-16. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
Alan Bowman #10 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders looks to pass the ball during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks on October 20, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Kansas 48-16. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

Alan Bowman plays his best game as a Red Raider

Given what we saw from the Red Raider defense in the opener, the best hope for a Tech win in this game is for the home team to win a classic Big 12 shootout.  For that to happen, QB Alan Bowman will have to have his best game yet as a collegiate.

Interestingly, we don’t know what Bowman looks like against the Longhorns because he’s never faced them having missed each of the last two editions of this series due to injury.  But we do know that he’s struggled at times against Power 5 teams.

So far, Bowman has started and finished just four full games against Power 5 teams.  In those contests, he’s managed just a 2-2 record.  What’s more, Tech is only 2-5 in games in which he’s played at least two quarters against teams from a major conference.

But we know that Bowman can put up huge games at times.  After all, he put up 605 yards and 5 TDs against Houston in 2018, a game that was just his second career start.

To beat Texas, he may have to come close to matching those numbers, especially if the Horns have their way with the Red Raider defense as most expect.  That day, he hooked up with WR Antoine Wesley 13 times for 261 yards (a school record) and 3 TDs.

Another big day from a Tech WR would be huge this weekend.  And perhaps the two Red Raiders who had huge days against UT last year might repeat their performances from the 2019 season finale.

That day in Austin, KeSean Carter and Erik Ezukanma combined for 18 catches, 285 yards, and 2 TDs.  So we’ll keep an eye on those two targets to see if Alan Bowman can get them going early and often.

What’s for certain is that Bowman has to make the most of his opportunities today.  Unlike he did against Houston Baptist when he missed both Carter and Dalton Rigdon on deep balls that would have gone for TDs, the Tech QB has to be completely on point like he was that day in 2018 against Houston.  If he can play out of his mind, he could keep Tech in a shootout and maybe make enough plays to pull the upset.

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