Texas vs. Texas Tech: Preview and Prediction
Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming matchup between the Texas Longhorns and the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
GAME INFO
Saturday, September 24, 2022; 2:30 p.m. CT; Jones AT&T Stadium; Lubbock, Texas
TV: ESPN (Dave Fleming, Rod Gilmore, Tiffany Blackmon)
Radio: Longhorn Radio Network (Craig Way, Roger Wallace, Will Matthews); Texas Tech Sports Network (Brian Jensen, John Harris, Chris Level)
Records: Texas 2-1 (0-0 Big 12); Texas Tech 2-1 (0-0 Big 12)
Last Week’s Games: Texas 41, UTSA 20; NC State 27, Texas Tech 14
Rankings: Texas ranked No. 22 in AP Top 25; Texas Tech unranked
Series History: Texas leads series 54-17
Last Meeting: Texas 70, Texas Tech 35 (2021)
Favorite: Texas (-6.5)
Fun Fact: The Texas Longhorns and Texas Tech Red Raiders have played, uninterrupted, since 1960 and battle for a trophy known as the Chancellor’s Spurs, which originated in 1996.
Key Players
Texas Longhorns
QB Hudson Card/Quinn Ewers
Reports out of Austin suggest that both Hudson Card and Quinn Ewers are practicing this week, which is great news for the Texas Longhorns. Now, whichever one of them that trots out onto the field Saturday afternoon will be arguably the most important player in this game. Texas scored 70 points in this game last season, however that won’t be the case this year. The Red Raiders have looked better defensively so far this season and will have a raucous home crowd behind them. A clean game from the Texas quarterback will vastly improve the likelihood that Texas wins this ballgame.
LB DeMarvion Overshown
After being ejected from the second half of the UTSA game for a questionable targeting call, the University of Texas filed an appeal of the ruling in hopes of getting Overshown back in the first half of the Texas Tech game. If that appeal fails, Texas will lose its most experienced defender for the first half of its opening conference game. Having him available and ready to go from the first snap would be a huge boost for Texas on the road.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
QB Donovan Smith
When Tyler Shough won the starting job in Lubbock this fall, part of the reason was Donovan Smith’s tendency to put the ball in harm’s way. That has been the case in the time that Smith has played for the injured Shough, as he has thrown five interceptions to seven touchdowns to this point. It sounds like Smith will share snaps with Behren Morton this week, so we might see something from him in this game, but turnovers cannot be a problem if Tech wants a chance to win this one.
LB Tyree Wilson
I remember seeing Tyree Wilson at Big 12 Media Days for the first time and he looked the part more than anyone, standing at 6’6″ 275 pounds. The senior stand-up edge rusher has played well in 2022, leading the Red Raiders in tackles (21) and sacks (2.5) thus far. If TTU is going to win this game, Wilson will need to be a factor in the pass rush. He will likely see a double-team, or at least ship blocks from running backs out of the backfield all game, but if he demands attention, it could open up opportunities for other defenders to make a play.
Key Storylines
Texas Longhorns
Who starts at quarterback for the Longhorns? While I have confidence that Texas would be okay with Hudson Card under center, it just seems like Quinn Ewers elevates the entire Texas team to another level. If Card is the guy on Saturday, Texas will need to lean a bit more on the running game and will be able to attack the short to intermediate parts of the field. If Ewers is able to go, the entire playbook opens up and the offense can run at full potential.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
How does Texas Tech respond after a tough loss last week in Raleigh? NC State nearly doubled-up on Texas Tech last week and now the Red Raiders will return home and play their third-straight game against an opponent ranked in the AP Top 25. In a competitive Big 12, things won’t get any easier, so it is up to the coaching staff and upperclassman to make sure that this team is ready to go, although I don’t know how much of a pep talk they would need to take on the rival Longhorns.
Prediction: Texas 34, Texas Tech 28
This game is going to be much closer than it was a season ago, as the Longhorns will grab a decent lead and have to fend off a furious comeback from Texas Tech. In their final possession, the Red Raiders will have a chance to win the game, but their drive will stall and result in a turnover on downs, granting Texas the chance to kneel the ball and go back to Austin victorious.
