A look at news and notes about Jayhawks and upcoming opponents...

The Good Guys...

• How can Kansas avoid another Oklahoma type game.
• One last look back at what happened with the defense against OU.
• Crawford vs. Crawford this weekend.
• Notebook 1,  Notebook 2,  Notebook 3
• Dezmon Briscoe quietly having a big season.
• We've talked about it this week and last,Big 12 North Title.
• Arist Wright has filled in well at the linebacker spot this year.
• Feature on Darrell Stuckey from the Tech perspective.
• KU Sports Head to Head Analysis.
• KU defensive coordinator among those trying to stop the spread.
• This weeks features, Team Analysis, Tale of the Tape, Mid week press conference,  Know thy Enemy:Texas Tech .

The Bad Guys...

• Red Raiders begin a tough stretch.
• Make or Break test for Tech??
• Tech not the only Big 12 team struggling with Pass defense.
• Texas Tech's offense leads the Big 12 in yards per rush.

My Thoughts...It's been a fun week of discussion with our friends over at Double T Nation and while they are a tough group to convince I do think we have as good a shot as any at a win today.

The group has convinced me that we won't be getting pressure on Graham Harrel, and also that the Kansas running game will quite possibly return to our early season form.  That said it looks like we are in for a shootout.  I said it at the beginning of the week and I'll stand by it, this game will be decided by mistakes.  Turnovers, penalties and capatilizing on the other teams mistakes in these categories will be where this one is decided. 

With that in mind Kansas is the best team Tech has faced to date, they will be playing us at home and in an early game two things that have spelled problems for the Red Raiders in the past.  This game means a lot for the Jayhawks and this season and I just think Coach Mangino has the team ready to seize the moment against a top notch Big 12 South opponent on homecoming. 

As part of our discussion we've often talked about the lack of respect these two teams have recieved so I just want to end by saying if Kansas wins this is a huge win for the Jayhawks over a worthy top 10 opponent.  If Texas Tech pulls this off they position themselves for a run at the south and a BCS bowl with a win over a tough top 25 opponent on the road.  This is a great game between to excellent teams and kicks of my full Saturday of football, can't wait.

Final Score: Kansas 45   Texas Tech 42

Rock Chalk Jayhawk

Notes and Tidbits...Spoke with both Earnest Norman and Kevin Young, both will be in town for this game and from the sounds of things there will be several others too speak of as well...also please don't forget to give your feedback on any questions you would like answered from Kevin Young during my interview with him next week.  You can email me or add them in the comments section of the post regarding the interview.

Also don't forget the live game thread...I should be there and I invite any of you looking to chat during the game will join me. 

Full List of Supplemental Notes released by the athletic dept...Highlights after the Jump into the post...

A Kansas Win Would...

Be KU’s 14th consecutive home victory.

Make KU bowl eligible for the fourth straight season and fifth time in the last six years.

Improve KU to 18-3 in its last 21 games and 21-4 in its last 25 games.

A Kansas Loss Would...

Be less good than a win.

Things To Look For Against Texas Tech...

QB Todd Reesing(6,012) needs 399 passing yards to become the KU career leader (Frank Seurer had 6,410).

WR Dezmon Briscoe(15) needs two touchdown receptions to tie Willie Vaughn and Bruce Adams for the KU career touchdown receptions record.

Briscoe (eight) needs two touchdown receptions to tie Marcus Henry(10 last year) for the KU season record for touchdown receptions.

RB Jake Sharp has rushed for 100 yards in two straight games and the last time a Jayhawk ran for 100 yards in three straight games was last year when Brandon McAnderson accomplished that feat against Texas A&M, Nebraska and Oklahoma State in successive weeks.

Did You Know?...

Texas Tech is the first ranked team to play at Kivisto Field at Memorial Stadium since #25 Iowa State played here on Nov. 26, 2005.  Kansas posted a 24-21 overtime victory in that game.

Just past the midway point of the season Kansas already has two receivers with at least 600 receiving yards as Dezmon Briscoe has 705 and Kerry Meier 632 through seven games.  In addition, Johnathan Wilson has 342 receiving yards.  Here is a look at previous seasons KU has had at least two 600-yard receivers in the same year:

2007 - Marcus Henry(1,014) and Dexton Fields(824)

2003 - Charles Gordon(769), Mark Simmons(769), and Brandon Rideau(677)

Over After Three...

In all seven Kansas games this season, the team that has led after three quarters has gone on to win the game.  In the Mark Mangino era, KU is 36-5 when leading after three periods and 4-30 when trailing after 45 minutes.