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Texas Tech Faces Dangerous West Virginia With QB, Injury Questions
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- Texas Tech Faces Dangerous West Virginia With QB, Injury Questions
(Ben Queen-Imagn Images)
Texas Tech football got back on track with Saturday's victory over Arizona, but the Red Raiders won't have much time to celebrate.
No. 13 Texas Tech hosts West Virginia on November 7 at Galaxy Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN. And while Joey McGuire's team enters the game with a 7-1 record, there are still questions surrounding the quarterback position, injuries and an offense that hasn't always lived up to expectations.
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MORE: Texas Tech Climbs In Coaches Poll After Arizona Win, But Is No. 13 Enough?
The Red Raiders defeated No. 22 Arizona 34-26 last weekend, bouncing back from their first loss of the season against Cincinnati.
But the biggest storyline wasn't simply the victory.
It was McGuire's decision to start Tommy Castellanos instead of Will Hammond.
Castellanos brought a different dimension to the offense with his running ability, helping Texas Tech pile up 328 rushing yards against the Wildcats.
Running back J'Koby Williams delivered one of his best performances of the season, rushing for 175 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown.
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Castellanos, however, struggled to consistently move the football through the air, completing just 11 of 24 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns.
That creates an interesting dilemma for McGuire heading into Saturday.
Does Texas Tech continue leaning on Castellanos' mobility, or does Hammond get another opportunity to direct the offense?
The answer could be especially important against a West Virginia defense that has struggled throughout the season.
The Mountaineers enter the matchup at 5-3 overall and 2-3 in Big 12 play, coming off a bye week following their 24-20 victory at TCU on October 24.
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West Virginia has been dangerous offensively under quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., whose ability to run and throw gives opposing defenses multiple problems to solve.
The Mountaineers average 468.1 total yards and 261.6 rushing yards per game, ranking among the nation's most productive rushing offenses.
Running back Cam Cook provides another explosive option, making Texas Tech's ability to control the line of scrimmage especially important.
The Red Raiders have limited opponents to just 94.9 rushing yards per game, setting up one of Saturday's most compelling matchups.
Injuries could also influence the outcome.
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Texas Tech wide receiver Donte Lee Jr. is sidelined for the season with a torn ACL, while receivers Jalen Jones and Malcolm Simmons have been dealing with availability concerns. Running back Cameron Dickey has also battled an ankle injury.
West Virginia has experienced its own backfield problems, with Andre Devine and Martavious Boswell among the injured running backs. Chris Talley and Lawrence Autry have also appeared on recent injury reports.
Neither team's final availability for Saturday has been confirmed, making the midweek updates particularly important.
History favors Texas Tech in the recent series.
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The Red Raiders crushed West Virginia 49-0 last season and have won three of the last four meetings.
But this Mountaineers team features an offense capable of creating problems if Texas Tech allows Hawkins and Cook to establish the running game.
The Red Raiders also have a significant postseason opportunity ahead.
Texas Tech climbed to No. 13 in Sunday's US LBM Coaches Poll, and the first College Football Playoff rankings arrive Tuesday.
Another victory would strengthen the Red Raiders' case while keeping them firmly in the Big 12 championship conversation.
MORE: Texas Tech D-Line Won The Battle In The Trenches En Route To 5 Sacks Against Arizona
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But before Texas Tech can seriously discuss playoff possibilities, it needs to settle its quarterback situation, protect the football and avoid another slow offensive start.
Against an explosive West Virginia offense, those mistakes could prove costly.
