Texas Tech football: Predicting all 12 games in 2022

Texas Tech vs. Texas

Now that the Big 12 Conference has reportedly opened its negotiations with media partners earlier than expected, it makes it possible for Texas and Oklahoma to negotiate an early exit from the league meaning that the Longhorns’ visit to Lubbock in game No. 4 will likely be their last trip up the Caprock for the foreseeable future.

So expect Jones Stadium to be as juiced as it has been in the better part of a decade.  Also, expect the Red Raiders to pick up their first home win over the Horns since 2008.

As per usual, Texas is being massively over-rated this year.  They are ranked 18th in the first coaches poll and were picked to finish fourth in the Big 12 by the media.  That’s despite the fact that they went just 5-7 last year, including a home loss to Kansas.

Fall camp wasn’t great for UT as starting QB Quinn Ewers was, by all reports, anything but impressive and injuries took a heavy toll as a starting receiver and starting offensive linemen were lost for the year in Texas’ first fall scrimmage.

This year, the Texas offense might be quite good with RB Bijan Robinson leading the way.  But is Ewers the real deal?  That remains to be seen.

However, the Texas defense will be suspect a year after giving up over 31 points per game.  Will massive turnover on that side of the ball via the transfer portal be enough to turn the tide?

This could be a case where playing the Horns early in the season helps Tech.  Nearly a third of the UT roster is new and that could lead to some early growing pains.

In the end, this game will mean more to the Red Raiders than it will to the Horns.  In what will be McGuire’s first rivalry game, his team will embody his fighting spirit and play harder than UT to get the win in what might be the last time we ever see the Horns at Jones Stadium.