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Texas Tech football: 3 Predictions for Red Raiders vs. Wyoming

By Matthew Conner

Nov 26, 2022; Lubbock, Texas, USA; The Texas Tech Red Raiders enter the field before a game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2022; Lubbock, Texas, USA; The Texas Tech Red Raiders enter the field before a game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 9, 2017; Laramie, WY, USA; A general view of the Mick and Susie McMurry High Altitude Performance Center at War Memorial Stadium before a game between Wyoming Cowboys and the Gardner Webb Bulldogs. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 9, 2017; Laramie, WY, USA; A general view of the Mick and Susie McMurry High Altitude Performance Center at War Memorial Stadium before a game between Wyoming Cowboys and the Gardner Webb Bulldogs. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports /

The Texas Tech depth will prevent the Wyoming altitude from being an issue

A huge talking point for this game has been the fact that Laramie is the highest-elevation city in the FBS.  People in Wyoming are hoping that will be a factor that plays into the home team’s hands.

Even the Red Raiders acknowledged the altitude’s potential impact as Joey McGuire took his team to Fort Collins, Colorado a day early to help his players acclimate.  While the altitude is certainly something to consider, it won’t play a factor tonight because of the depth that the Red Raiders enjoy this year.

Last season’s team might have struggled in such a situation as defensive players like Jaylon Hutchings, Tony Bradford, and Tyree Wilson almost never came off the field in 2022.  As a result, those players (and other Red Raider defenders) frequently played over 60 snaps in a game causing them to be less effective in the fourth quarter.

In fact, six of the 13 teams Tech faced last year scored double-digit points in the fourth quarter.  That was a reason why winnable games against Kansas State, Oklahoma State, and TCU got away from the Red Raiders late.

This year, McGuire has said that he is comfortable with his entire two-deep along the defensive line playing significant snaps.  That should help keep the starters fresh and allow them to be at their best when games are on the line.

Additionally, Tech has nine players on the offensive line who have started a game at the college level.  When last year began, they had only two.  Thus, it is possible to envision that position group also rotating fresh bodies in throughout the game.

Across the roster, Tech has the type of quality depth that the program has lacked in recent seasons.  There isn’t a position group that is considered dangerously thin and because of that, there shouldn’t be huge drop-offs when the starters get a breather.  So don’t expect the 7,165 feet of elevation in Laramie to be as big of a factor as some think it could be.

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