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Texas Tech football: Toss-up games that will be pivotal in 2021

By Matthew Conner

Nov 3, 2018; Lubbock, TX, USA; The Texas Tech Red Raiders Masked Rider enters the field before the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 3, 2018; Lubbock, TX, USA; The Texas Tech Red Raiders Masked Rider enters 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 defensive back Zech McPhearson (8) intercepts a pass intended fo TCU Horned Frogs wide receiver Blair Conwright (22) during the first quarter at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2020; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive back Zech McPhearson (8) intercepts a pass intended fo TCU Horned Frogs wide receiver Blair Conwright (22) during the first quarter at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports /

vs. TCU

Since 2015, the TCU Horned Frogs have found life in Lubbock to be rather hospitable.  Having won their last three games in the Hub City, Gary Patterson’s team has taken over Jones Stadium and made it their own playground.

That needs to change in 2021 for Matt Wells and his program.  But that won’t be an easy task.

TCU is receiving plenty of love as one of the true sleeper teams in the Big 12.  And that’s because the Frogs bring back a host of talent on both sides of the football.

It will be the ground game that they rely on the most.  Don’t forget that QB Max Duggan led the team in rushing in 2020 with 526 yards.  And being as TCU returns two of last year’s top three running backs, look for the Frogs to try to ground it out on the ground this year.

Of course, that plays right to the strength of their team, the defense.  Starting with their three takeaways against Texas Tech last fall, the Frogs amassed 22 turnovers in their last six games of last season and they will look to build upon that momentum in 2021.

Of course, this will be the Sonny Cumbie Bowl as the new Texas Tech offensive coordinator will face his former employer.  And make no mistake, he will want to prove that he is an elite play-caller and offensive strategist by hanging a big number on Patterson, the man who put the shackles on Cumbie during their shared time in Fort Worth.

If Cumbie can exploit the TCU defense and Tech has a big day, it will be a nice change of pace in this rivalry.  The most Tech has scored against TCU in the last five games is 31 points and in four of those contests, Tech has failed to surpass 27 points.

But no one should know the TCU defense better than Sonny Cumbie and perhaps that will be the key to a Red Raider win.  If that proves to be the case, this toss-up game could be one of the most important wins of the Matt Wells era.

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