Texas vs. Texas Tech: Preview and Prediction
Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming Big 12 match up in our Texas vs. Texas Tech preview and prediction.
Game Info
Saturday, September 25th, 2021, 11:00 a.m. CST; Austin, Texas; Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium
TV: ABC (Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek, Tom Luginbill)
Radio: Longhorn IMG Radio Network (Craig Way, Roger Wallace, Will Matthews)
Spread: Texas -8.5
Fun Fact: Texas holds a 53-17 advantage over Texas Tech in the all-time series between the schools, and has won 10 of the last 12 matchups.
Key Players
Texas Longhorns
RB Bijan Robinson
No matter who is at quarterback, it’s Robinson who runs this offense for Texas. In Saturday’s 58-0 win over Rice, Robinson racked up 127 yards on just 13 carries with three touchdowns. Over his last seven games, Robinson has totaled 821 rushing yards on 99 carries (831 ypc) with nine touchdowns, while also hauling in 14 receptions for 220 yards (15.7 ypc) and scoring three touchdowns. He’s scored multiple touchdowns in four of his last five games. The game he didn’t? The one they lost to Arkansas in Week 2, when he rushed for only 69 yards and had just four receiving yards. Robinson makes this offense go and that will be the case again on Saturday against Texas Tech.
LB DeMarvion Overshown
Overshown had a quiet game on Saturday against Rice, with just four tackles, but he recorded 21 tackles in the first two games of the season, the most tackles for a Longhorn in the first two contests of the season since Cedric Reed had 24 in 2013. The veteran leader has played in 30 games and started 15 over his career. He leads the team this season with 25 tackles, along with 1.5 tackles for loss and .5 sacks.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
QB Tyler Shough
While we are only three games into the season, Shough leads the Big 12 Conference with 268 passing yards per game and efficiency (170.8). He has tossed six touchdowns to two interceptions. Against FIU on Saturday, Shough finished 26/35 for 399 yards and four touchdowns. Given the disappointing start to the season for Oklahoma’s Spencer Rattler and Iowa State’s Brock Purdy, Shough may be able to make his case as the top signal caller in the Big 12.
LB Colin Schooler
Schooler leads Texas Tech with 20 tackles, two tackles for loss and has five quarterback hurries on the season. The former Arizona transfer ranked second on the team with 63 tackles (41 solo), including 5.0 that went for a loss last season. He also led the team with 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Schooler will need to anchor a defense that will need to do its best in slowing down Bijan Robinson.
Key Storylines
Texas Longhorns
Texas obviously has a quarterback battle that continues to unfold. While they need to get Bijan Robinson going, they also should have some opportunities on the outside and Steve Sarkisian should trust his playmakers. That’s because Texas Tech, despite its mediocre competition, ranks last in the Big 12 in pass defense. Let’s see if Thompson or Card can sling it around a bit and find players like Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington in open space. This would lead UT to a victory and build lots of confidence for his young quarterback(s).
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Stop Bijan. Or maybe we should say, slow him down. But through three games, Texas Tech is ranked second in the Big 12 in giving up just 54 rushing yards per game. Granted, they haven’t seen a back close to Bijan’s ability, but that has to be encouraging for Matt Wells coming into this one. Stack the box against Robinson and then make Casey Thompson (or Hudson Card) beat you.
Prediction: Texas 38, Texas Tech 28
Last year’s game was a wild one, as Texas Tech blew a 15-point lead with three minutes left to lose the game. I’m not predicting anything like that this season, except for the fact that Texas will win again. UT is home and the running game will overwhelm the Red Raiders to then set up some opportunities down field. Plus, Tech has been sloppy at times in its 3-0 start. Just last week there was a muffed punt that was inexcusable, plus Tech is the worst in the Big 12 in penalties with 21 on the season. That won’t cut it on the road in Austin. Texas wins this one comfortably.
