Well, because Joey McGuire and the Texas Tech Red Raiders suffered a loss against Arizona State a couple weeks ago and are now a bit behind the conference leaders in the Big 12 as we enter Week 10, it looks like they need to make up some ground in the eyes of some.
Like USA Today’s Erick Smith, who doesn’t have Texas Tech making the College Football Playoff in his latest postseason projections.
Instead, Smith has the Red Raiders heading to Orlando, Florida to meet up with a really intriguing team from the ACC. While CBS Sports had the Red Raiders meeting up with the Miami Hurricanes in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, USA Today has Texas Tech facing off against the Louisville Cardinals.
USA Today college football bowl projection places Texas Tech Red Raiders in Pop-Tarts Bowl matchup with Louisville Cardinals
I find the Cardinals to be an absolutely fascinating team that is getting overlooked this year. At 6-1 overall and 3-1 against other ACC Teams, the Cardinals will have a shot to get to the ACC Championship Game this season if they can continue to win down the stretch, and there really aren’t many impressive teams left on their schedule this season.
Louisville has a win over the then No.2 Miami Hurricanes at Miami and their only loss came against the Virginia Cavaliers, who currently hold the second-best record in the ACC heading into Week 10. Jeff Brohm really has this particular team rolling at the moment.
The offense has been effective, but probably not where Brohm has wanted it to be as Miller Moss has tossed five interceptions so far this season. But the defense? Louisville has a very real defense that is limiting opponents to 286.3 yards per game right now.
The Cardinals are good. At the moment, they look like they might be very good. They’re definitely a team to keep an eye on, even if Texas Tech doesn’t play them this season.