Texas Tech vs. Baylor: Preview and Prediction
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the upcoming Big 12 match up in our Texas Tech vs. Baylor preview and prediction.
Game Info
3:00 p.m. CST, Saturday, November 14th, 2020; Jones AT&T Stadium; Lubbock, TX
TV: FOX Sports 1 (Eric Collins, Ben Leber, Max Harnett)
Radio: Texas Tech Sports Network (Brian Jensen), Baylor Sports Network (John Morris), Sirius 108, XM 199
Spread: Texas Tech -1.5
Fun Fact: Texas Tech head coach Matt Wells and Baylor head coach Dave Aranda previously worked together at Utah State in 2012. Aranda was the Aggies’ defensive coordinator that season opposite of Wells, who was the offensive coordinator and was eventually promoted to head coach of his alma mater.
Key Players
Baylor Bears
RB’s John Lovett and Trestan Ebner
There were rumblings a couple of weeks ago these two were going to sit out the rest of the season. That turned out to not be the case, but the two haven’t played a big role since then. But this week it was announced that leading rusher Craig Williams is out for the season with an injury, meaning Lovett and Ebner are back in the spotlight. Lovett has 125 rushing yards and 32 receiving yards, while Ebner has 75 rushing yards and 220 receiving yards.
OLB/DE William Bradley-King
The news this week that star LB Terrel Bernard is out for the season is a huge blow to this Baylor defense. That means more pressure on Bradley-King and others on defense. But Bradley-King has lived up to the hype thus far after transferring in from Arkansas State. In his first five games with the Bears, he has 19 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recover and three pass break ups this season.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
RB SaRodorick Thompson
Thompson has been dealing with some nagging injuries in recent weeks, but if there is a time for him to have a break out game, this would be it. Thompson only has a combined eight carries for barely 40 yards the last two weeks after starting the season with back-to-back 100-yard games. He’s still the team’s leading rushing with 390 yards. Last year against Baylor, Thompson had a career-high 153 rushing yards with two scores. Baylor is vulnerable against the run, ranking 8th in the Big 12 in rushing yards allowed per game.
LB Riko Jeffers
Jeffers has always played well against the Bears. He has 17 career tackles versus Baylor, including 1.5 tackles for loss. Jeffers posted three tackles as a true freshman in 2017 and followed with eight in 2018 and then six a year ago. His 1.5 tackles for a loss against the Bears all came in 2018, including one sack. Jeffers should have his chances behind the line of scrimmage as Baylor’s offensive line has been a game of musical chairs all season.
Key Storylines
Baylor Bears
Baylor needs to do what it did last week against Iowa State, but this time hang on for the win. Baylor led Iowa State 24-10 before giving up 28-straight points. Texas Tech just doesn’t have the offensive fire power to catch up like the Cyclones did last week. But for Baylor, they haven’t played a balanced game since the opener vs. Kansas. Two weeks ago they trailed 30-0 to TCU before making the game a 10-point contest in the second half. And as noted last week, a great first half saw a second half collapse. Baylor just needs to put together a consistent game.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
The Red Raiders need to win the game in the trenches, something they haven’t done much of this season, but they have a chance to on Saturday. Texas Tech has issues at tackle, but the good news is that Baylor has had a hard time getting tot he QB this season, ranking second to last in the Big 12 with only 11 sacks on the season. On the other side, Baylor is giving up three sacks per game, which Tech must take advantage of if it wants to get back in the win column.
Prediction
Baylor 31, Texas Tech 28
This game is a total toss up. Neither team has been good this season and both would desperately like to get this win. With that being said, Baylor has had flashes the last couple of weeks on both sides of the ball, but just hasn’t put it together yet. Meantime, Texas Tech has struggled mightily and appears to be a team trending in the wrong direction. Baylor gets itself in the win column in a close game in Lubbock.
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