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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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Rain soaked Texas Tech Red Raider fans are fire up for the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the TCU Horned Frogs on September 26, 2015 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. TCU won the game 55-52. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
Rain soaked Texas Tech Red Raider fans are fire up for the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the TCU Horned Frogs on September 26, 2015 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. TCU won the game 55-52. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

Tech allows fewer than two long TDs

The best hope for the Red Raider defense to survive this weekend, the red zone, needs to come in to play all afternoon.  In other words, the Red Raiders can’t let Texas do what Houston Baptist did and repeatedly score on huge plays.

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Thus, if Tech can limit the Horns to fewer than two TD strikes of 30 or more yards, there’s reason to believe that this game will be close.  That’s because one of the few things the defense did well in week one was come up with plays inside the 20.

In the second quarter, Zech McPhearson picked off a pass in the endzone to thwart an HBU red-zone possession.  And right before halftime, Krishon Merriweather made a solo tackle at the one-yard line on 4th-and-goal to again keep the Huskies off the board.

Of the four HBU touchdowns, only one traveled less than 65 yards.  Tech can’t afford to let UT have that type of big-play success today and hope to win.

When Texas gets inside the 20, the Tech defense no longer has to worry as much about being beaten deep because the back of the endzone works as a 12th defender.  Thus, the Red Raider defensive backs can then play a bit more aggressively knowing that they don’t have to concern themselves with being burned over the top.

Big plays were a problem for the Red Raider secondary in week one.  In fact, of the 52 teams that have played a game thus far this season, Tech ranks just 46th in terms of the number of plays of 30 yards or more surrendered.  Tech has already given up five such plays.  What’s more, each of the six teams that have given up more have played at least twice.

Related Story. When Tech has opened Big 12 play with an upset. light

It will be interesting to see if the Red Raider secondary has improved in the two weeks of practice since the last time we saw a game.  If it has and the Longhorns aren’t able to bite of yards in huge chunks through the air, this game could come down to the wire.

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