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Texas Tech football vs. West Virginia: Scouting report, prediction on Big 12 game
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- Texas Tech football vs. West Virginia: Scouting report, prediction on Big 12 game
The Texas Tech football team , trying to go 3-1 in November , closes the regular season at home Saturday against West Virginia in a battle of bowl-eligible Big 12 teams.
The Red Raiders (7-4, 5-3 in the Big 12) are a 3½-point favorite over the Mountaineers (6-5, 5-3). Tech will recognize more than 20 seniors before the 11 a.m. kickoff at Jones AT&T Stadium.
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The Red Raiders began the week with an outside chance to make the Big 12 championship game, being one of five teams one game behind four teams tied for the conference lead.
Texas Tech had won four in a row in the series before WVU won 20-13 last year in Morgantown.
Read on for a breakdown of Saturday's game.
When Texas Tech football runs
Doak Walker Award semifinalist Tahj Brooks (263 attempts, 1,317 yards, 14 touchdowns) ranks third in the FBS in carries and sixth in rushing yards. He's topped 100 yards every game this season. WVU, sixth in the Big 12 in run defense, gave up 100-yard performances its last two times out against Baylor's Bryson Washington (18-123-3) and Central Florida's R.J. Harvey (16-130-2). Trying to draw a bead on Brooks are LBs Josiah Trotter (84 tackles), Trey Lathan (62 tackles, 7 tackles for loss) and Monterey graduate Tyrin Bradley (49 tackles, 6½ TFL).
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Advantage: Texas Tech
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When Texas Tech passes
Tech ranks 11th in the FBS in passing offense, WVU 122nd in pass defense. QB Behren Morton (2,976 yards passing, 25 touchdowns) gets it to IR Josh Kelly (80-873-5) and WRs Caleb Douglas (52-712-5) and Coy Eakin (39-557-6). TE Jalin Conyers (25-271-5) has three TDs in the past two games. Tech pass protection must account for DT T.J. Jackson (13 TFL, 6½ sacks).
Advantage: Texas Tech
Jalin Conyers #12 of Texas Tech Red Raiders shouts before the game against the Baylor Bears at Jones AT&T Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Lubbock, Texas.
When West Virginia runs
WVU is fourth in the Big 12 and 22nd in the FBS in rushing offense with a three-pronged attack of RBs Jahiem White (128-693-6) and C.J. Donaldson (132-621-9) and speedy QB Garrett Greene (116-649-5). Left tackle Wyatt Milum is one seven semifinalists for the Outland Trophy, which goes to college football's top interior lineman. Tech's Jacob Rodriguez leads the Big 12 with 113 tackles and gets help from fellow ILB Ben Roberts (74 tackles).
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Advantage: West Virginia
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When West Virginia passes
WVU is No. 103 in passing offense, Tech No. 132 in pass defense. Among the Big 12's regular QBs, Greene is next-to-last in passing yards (1,707) and TDs (12) and last in completion percentage (55.5). His top targets are TE Kole Taylor (38-396-3) and WR Hudson Clement (36-535-3). Tech's pass rush has been a season-long disappointment. In the secondary, safeties C.J. Baskerville and Chapman Lewis each have three interceptions and three pass breakups.
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Advantage: Even
Nov 23, 2024; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers running back CJ Donaldson Jr. (4) celebrates with offensive lineman Wyatt Milum (74) after running for a touchdown against the UCF Knights during the third quarter at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images
Special teams
Both teams boast a quality all-around group. For Tech, Lou Groza Award semifinalist Gino Garcia has made 28 of his past 31 field goals dating to last season, and kickoff-return men Drae McCray (26.4-yard average) and J'Koby Williams (26.3) are home-run threats. P Jack Burgess (42.0) is tied for second in the Big 12 in punts inside the 20 with 17. WVU's standouts include K Michael Hayes (28 of 33 field goals dating to last season), P Oliver Straw (43.4-yard average) and KR Preston Fox (27.6-yard average).
Advantage: Texas Tech
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Score prediction: Texas Tech 34, West Virginia 26
Bottom line:Tech and WVU have played seven games decided by eight points or fewer in the past 11 years, and this shapes up as another. Tech's 6-1 in such games this year, and a senior-day home crowd should help the Red Raiders pull out another close one.
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This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech football vs. West Virginia: Scouting report, prediction
