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Texas Tech heads to Lawrence - a stadium in which they have never lost - for a late October showdown with our beloved Jayhawks. The Techsters are breaking in a new head coach themselves this year, so it could be interesting to see what kind of offense the Raiders will have this season after so many years of the Air Raid.
Game Info
Texas Tech @ Kansas
October 26, 2019: Time TBD
Lawrence, KS: Memorial Stadium
About the TTU Offense
Texas Tech returns just 59% of its offensive production from 2018, but that seems to me to be a misleading figure. It should be noted that both quarterbacks who saw significant time last year are back in Alan Bowman and Jett Duffey. Duffey was actually TTU’s leading rusher last year, but Ta’Zhawn Henry is back after leading the RBs in yards. However, only one receiver with more than 20 receptions returns, in the form of TJ Vasher.
As for the offensive line, there was only one senior on the 2018 week 1 two-deep, so the Raider will be loaded with experience almost everywhere on offense.
About the TTU Defense
On the other side of the line of scrimmage, Tech returns 63% of its defensive production. Tech will be breaking in two new starting safeties, a linebacker, and two defensive linemen. The top two tacklers from 2018 both return in Jordyn Brooks and Riko Jeffers, but Tech loses its top two sack masters. In the secondary, Adrian Frye picked off five passes last year - he’ll be back for more this season. Tech’s defense gave up over 31 points per game in 2018, and it appears as if they’ll be hard pressed to improve on that figure.
Preseason Rankings
Bill Connelly did a pre-spring S&P+ ranking back in February of all 130 teams and has Texas Tech at #55, or eighth in the Big 12.
Meanwhile, Athlon also ranked all 130 teams in pre-spring as well in March, and has the Raiders at #60.
For reference, the Jayhawks were ranked #107 by S&P+ and #106 by Athlon.
Foolish Prediction
Remember when Mario Kinsey led your Kansas Jayhawks to victory over Texas Tech in Lubbock? That was in 2001. There are high schoolers that have never seen Kansas beat Texas Tech in football.
That was also KU’s only win in 20 tries against the Red Raiders. The Raiders are breaking in a new head coach and look to be susceptible on defense, but I’m not sure that the Kansas offense will be able to keep up.
You would think being at home would be something of an advantage for Kansas. Of course, you might have also thought that in 2004 when KU blew a 30-5 halftime advantage to lose, 31-30. I guess it just comes down to whether or not you believe KU’s offense can keep pace with whatever Texas Tech is going to bring. Since we don’t know much about either team’s offense right now (due to the aforementioned new coaches), I’ll stick with the favorite on this one. Texas Tech 45, Kansas 31.