The Shoot Out

There is a shoot out coming, I can feel it. West Texas is where this is going to take place. Out on the Caprock in Jones Stadium in Lubbock. I just have the feeling that there could be a lot of points scored out there on Saturday.

The home team is the Texas Tech Red Raiders, #7 in the BCS. They are able to score just about at will really. This past week they dropped 63 on Kansas. Really the impressive thing with that is the fact that they only gave up only 21 to the Jayhawks. It means that Tech is actually playing defense this season, not just looking to outscore everyone. They have a decent run game this year and are able to use play action passes against teams which gives them an added dimension on that crazy high scoring offense of theirs. On top of that, they still have Graham Harrell and the best receiver in college football with Michael Crabtree.

The visitors however are the #1 ranked team in the BCS, the Texas Longhorns. The Longhorns have shown that they are deserving of the top ranking after impressive wins over Oklahoma, Missouri and Oklahoma State. They are an offense that has the likely front runner for the Heisman Trophy this year in Colt McCoy. He not only completes passes with incredible accuracy (81.8% in nearly 250 attempts) but is also a threat to run (he is the teams leading rusher with 412 yeards on the season). On top of this the Longhorns has a stout defense.

What I believe it will come down to in the end is which teams defense is able to get the most stops. Tech is playing much improved on that side and showed this week that they were for real in the Big 12. The Longhorns are always good on the defensive side of the ball, but are prone to giving up points to a (good) spread offense (The Red River Rivalry- 35 to OU). In the end, the defense that makes the most stops and the special teams that play the best will help to decide this game. On the line is an udefeated record (for both teams) plus the hope of getting to the national championship game. It should be very interesting as well as high scoring...I can't wait. Peace and Love y'all.