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Texas Tech football: The Red Raiders will beat Baylor if…

By Matthew Conner

Oct 31, 2020; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Matt Wells leads the team onto the field before the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2020; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Matt Wells leads the team onto the field before the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 7, 2020; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders running back Xavier White (14) is pursued by TCU Horned Frogs linebacker Dee Winters (13) at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2020; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders running back Xavier White (14) is pursued by TCU Horned Frogs linebacker Dee Winters (13) at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports /

…the ground game can dominate

Every week, every team in the nation goes into a game talking about running the ball effectively.  It’s a manta even coaches who base out of the spread offense love to repeat.

But this week, Tech should have an opportunity to win this game on the ground.  That’s because the Bears are awful against the run.

Allowing an average of 181.4 rushing yards per game, Baylor is just 9th in the Big 12 when it comes to stopping the run.  That has to drive a defensive-minded head coach like Aranda absolutely crazy.

Last week, Iowa State ran for 198 yards in a 38-31 win over the Bears.  What’s more, in their four losses, Baylor has given up an average of 184.5 yards on the ground.

In each of the previous two games the Bears have allowed a 100-yard rusher.  Two weeks ago, TCU’s Darwin Barlow racked up 117 yards and a TD while last week, Iowa State’s Breece Hall ran for 133  yards and two scores.

But one has to wonder if Tech has the horses at RB to do the same.  After all, injuries have limited the impact of SaRodorick Thompson as he’s had no more than six carries in any game since he had 12 against Kansas State.

Speaking of that KSU game, which was way back on October 3rd, it was the last time the Red Raiders had an individual rusher go over 68 yards in a game.  That day, Xavier White broke out for 113 yards and one TD on just 12 carries.

Let’s see if Tech can dominate this game on the ground.  It would help a struggling passing game and make life easier for an offensive line that was beaten badly in the pass protection department last week by TCU.

Remember that it is being reported that Tech will play both Henry Colombi and Alan Bowman at QB today.  Thus, the passing game could become disjointed as that system almost never yields positive results.  So it may fall upon the Red Raider ground game to carry the day for the offense.

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