(Believe me, I want Hawk gone as much as anyone, just please support the team. -link)
Lost in the shuffle and excitement of the Pac-12 announcement this week has been the game prep for Texas Tech. Fans across Buff Nation have been focused on future matters, specifically because current matters are getting to be unbearable. The players however have sensed what is a key point: that this weekend's game against Texas Tech is a must win if they want to go to a bowl game of any sort. While I may not agree with any notion of there being the possibility of a "special season" left for the 2010 Buffaloes, I do agree that they players still have something to play for. Bowl trips are to be treasured (especially in the Dan Hawkins era), and I am certainly rooting for the players to earn one.
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Red Raider-Hater
(Anytime I hear about Red Raider football, I can't help but think about that dude)
Hating Raiders of any color (Red, Silver/Black, Blue) is a proud Colorado tradition. I find it amusing that both the Broncos and the Buffs are having their respective Raider-weeks at the same time; an interesting quirk of the schedule that only I would think about.
The Red, tortilla-throwing version of Raider Nation comes to Boulder from shitty Lubbock, Texas. Coincidentally, my only time spent in Lubbock was on a trip to Waco. From one shithole to another, I guess. We entered the town on a lark; I simply wanted to see the campus (and buy a shot glass). Driving on Main Street toward campus I came upon a torn down brick building with kids playing in the rubble. It was like a scene out of Somalia or Afghanistan... only in Lubbock... on Main Street ... on a school day. What a fucking shithole.
Tech has long been known for their passing attack. Formulated under Air-Raid genius Mike Leach, the Tech offense used multiple quick and undersized WR's to turn 5 yard out routes into 15 yard gains. They would do this all day, consistently throwing 50+ times a game. All of a sudden NCAA passing records were being shattered by the likes of Kliff Kingsbury, B.J. Symons, Sonny Cumbie (had to look him up), Cody Hodges and Graham Harrell. These were not great QB's (outside of possibly Harrell), but the system allowed them to thrive. Quick passes meant they were never sacked and had relatively easy looks all day.
Offensively, the firing of Leach, and subsequent hiring of SEC reject Tommy Tubberville, has meant a slight change in offensive scheme. Don't get me wrong, Tech still slings the ball, it's just not the same offense as previous years. Instead of just completing the bubble-screens and short out-routes, they are a more vertical passing attack now; they have no qualms stretching the field with shots to the wide-outs on streaks and posts. They are still deadly through the air and behind QB Taylor Potts (who was Cody's housemate on ESPN's "Summer House;" Sadly, I watched every episode) Tech is throwing for over 315 yards per game. His main targets this year are the outstanding Lyle Leong and the above average Detron Lewis. The big difference in the current iteration of the Tech offense is the inclusion of a run game. In previous years the run game was just there to give the QB's arm a break. RB's would usually pose more of a receiving than a run threat; now they run with a purpose. RB's Baron Batch and Eric Stephens have helped the Red Raiders average over 114 rushing yards per game, which would've been unheard of under Mike Leach. This will be a tough unit to keep off the field, especially in light of last weeks difficulties with Baylor.
("Potts pass complete to Leong" is a phrase we're going to hear a lot of on Saturday)
Defensively, Tech is, as always, prone to giving up bunches of yards. It has always seemed to me that for all the yards they gain on offense, their defense is more than willing to give up just as many. On the year their defense is giving up more yards per game and per play than the offense is gaining for them. Overall, they've only scored 9 more points than their opponents, and are getting gashed on the ground to the tune of 142.5 yards per game. Any Big XII offense should be successful against this team, and were CU to struggle, the Buffs would only have themselves to blame. The Tech defense is lead by senior linebackers Bront Bird and Brian Duncan. Freshman Jarvis Phillips has a surprising 4 interceptions, but that may just be a case of offenses picking on him a bunch since he's a frosh.
Prediction Time
I still don't like Anthony Perkins being out, and I don't like the fact that Jimmy Smith is coming off of a concussion. The defensive backfield will be hard pressed to use freshmen and backups to cover what is always a strong Texas Tech passing game. I am, however, excited to see freshman DB Terrel Smith on the field. If you followed fall practices at all, you heard a lot of buzz about Smith, and while there are often flashes in the excitement pan of fall practices, I expect Smith to play well on Saturday (assuming he sees the field unlike Kirkwood last week). Overall, the unit needs to get off the mat after getting knocked around by the Bears last week. Facing a QB who's less inclined to run, and an offense that relies less on post-snap reads, the defense should be better in my estimation (I highly doubt Tech will be able to run for over 300 yards like Baylor did last Saturday). CU played a similar style offense earlier this year (Hawaii) and should feel more comfortable then they did against the read option. The Buffs defense is better than they showed last week, and I look for them to prove it this weekend.
(Freshman Terrell Smith looks to get his first action this weekend. From: the BDC)
Offensively, I think the Buffs will play well. I think the coaches realize they focused a little to much on running the football to keep the ball out of Robert Griffin's hands. Look for them to mix it up a little bit, and throw a little more this week. Paul Richardson showed he can play at this level last week, and, combined with Clemmons and McKnight, I think the Buffs would do well to air it out a little bit more this week. Additionally, Tech can be gashed with the run game, and I expect Speedy to have another big game on fewer carries than last week.
Since the formation of the Big XII, CU is 4-2 against Texas Tech, and 3-0 in Boulder. In fact CU has never lost to Tech in Boulder, having gone 4-0 all time against the Red Raiders in Folsom Field (even beating them solidly in 2006 for the first of 2 wins on the year). We always seem to play well against Tech; Hawk's last road win was even against the Red Raiders in '07 (remember those heady days?). Sometimes you just have a programs number. I don't expect the winning trend against Tech to end, and CU will beat Tech. It won't be pretty, and everyone in the stands may have to sweat it out, but CU will win this game to keep bowl hopes alive.
CU 32 - TT 23
GO BUFFS!
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