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Texas Tech football: Why WVU game is the most important of the season

By Matthew Conner

Sep 2, 2017; Lubbock, TX, USA; A Texas Tech Red Raiders flag outside Jones AT&T Stadium before the game with the Eastern Washington Eagles. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 2, 2017; Lubbock, TX, USA; A Texas Tech Red Raiders flag outside Jones AT&T Stadium before the game with the Eastern Washington Eagles. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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LUBBOCK, TX – NOVEMBER 2: The Texas Tech Red Raiders take the field for a game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys on November 2, 2013 at AT&T Jones Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Oklahoma State won the game 52-34 (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX – NOVEMBER 2: The Texas Tech Red Raiders take the field for a game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys on November 2, 2013 at AT&T Jones Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Oklahoma State won the game 52-34 (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

This a game that’s winnable and there aren’t many of those left in 2020

When we start looking at the rest of the 2020 schedule, it’s hard to find too many games that appear more winnable than this one.  Thus, if Wells and Co. want to avoid a disastrous season, they had best put this one in the win column.

Right now, the ESPN Matchup Predictor gives Tech a 40.1% shot at coming out on top.  Though that metric is always changing from week to week, as it stands right now, the only game left in 2020 that has a higher win probability for Tech is the season-finale against Kansas.

ESPN currently has Tech with an 86.1% chance at beating KU.  Outside of that, the next-best percentage Tech has other than this week’s game is a 30.7% chance at beating Baylor in Lubbock.

Last year, the Red Raiders capitalized on a winnable opportunity when facing West Virginia in Morgantown.  Taking advantage of four Mountaineer turnovers, Tech jumped out to a 35-10 halftime lead on their way to a 38-17 win.

That was the last time Tech has won a Big 12 game under Wells.  The current conference losing streak now sits at seven games and that’s a streak that isn’t likely to end next week against the Sooners if Tech falters Saturday.

What’s more, a trip to TCU follows the Sooners’ visit.  In that game in Fort Worth, Tech currently has just a 17.6% shot a winning according to ESPN.

We all know that this program desperately needs to get its first conference win of the year as soon as possible.  But if that doesn’t happen against West Virginia, it’s fair to wonder if it will happen at all until Kansas comes to town in December.  By that time, Wells’ seat could be as hot as any in the NCAA.

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