Right here is every thing it’s essential to know concerning the upcoming matchup between the Texas Tech Crimson Raiders and the Houston Cougars.

GAME INFO

Saturday, September 10, 2022; 3 p.m. CT; Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, Texas

TV: FS1 (Tim Brando, Spencer Tillman, Jake Jalivette)

Radio: Texas Tech: Texas Tech Sports activities Community; Sirius/XM Channel 136 or 200; Houston: KPRC 950 AM; Sirius/XM 390.

Information: Texas Tech, 1-0; Houston, 1-0.

Rankings: Texas Tech: Not Ranked (Related Press FBS Prime 25); Houston: No. 25.

Sequence Historical past: Houston leads, 18-14-1.

Final Assembly: Texas Tech 38, Houston 21 (2021).

Favourite: Texas Tech (-3)

Enjoyable Reality: That is the final sport of a home-and-home collection between the Crimson Raiders and the Cougars, which was contracted properly earlier than Houston was invited to affix the Large 12 Convention in 2023.

KEY PLAYERS

TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS

RB SaRodorick Thompson

With the damage to quarterback Tyler Shough, extra of the load might fall to Thompson, who’s well-equipped to deal with it. On the profession Tech listing, he’s tied for fifth in profession dashing touchdowns (33) and is outdoors the Prime 10 in profession dashing yards (2,028). However, he’s now the uncommon Texas Tech again with a minimum of 2,000 yards dashing for his profession. He handed that mark towards Murray State, a sport during which he rushed for 48 yards and a landing on simply seven carries towards Murray State. He’ll be wanted extra this week.

EDGE Tyree Wilson

The transfer from a down-lineman stance to a stand-up edge rusher ought to agree with Wilson, who had 38 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 7 sacks final season. He’s hoping to construct on a an All-Large 12 Honorable Point out season in 2021 that concluded with Defensive MVP honors on the Liberty Bowl. Houston has loads of weapons. Wilson is a participant that may get to all of them.

Houston Cougars

QB Clayton Tune

He’s probably the greatest quarterbacks within the nation, even if you happen to might not know him by title. If the Cougars had been truly within the Large 12 this 12 months, he’d be getting extra love nationally. Tune threw for 206 yards within the Cougars’ triple-overtime comeback win over UTSA final week. However, he’s threw for greater than 3,550 yards final season and dished out 30 touchdowns. He’s harmful.

DB Gervarrius Owens

Houston has few defenders pretty much as good and as skilled as Owens, who enters his senior season coming off an All-American Athletic Convention First-Crew marketing campaign. He performed in 13 video games, had 52 tackles and tied for the staff excessive with two interceptions. A type of was a pick-six. He’s constant and he’s a playmaker.

KEY STORYLINES

TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS

The Crimson Raiders are feeling good after destroying Murray State. However have in mind they destroyed a middling FCS staff. Texas Tech’s FCS sport from final season, towards Stephen F. Austin, practically was a loss. The damage to Shough is hard. However Donovan Smith’s expertise from final season must be invaluable to flattening the training curve. Tech’s protection has the potential to be actually good. However Houston goes to supply a a lot stiffer take a look at. The takeaway after the primary week is that you simply don’t need to oversell the Crimson Raiders’ blowout win as an indication that the staff is considerably higher simply but.

HOUSTON COUGARS

By the identical token, you don’t need to oversell that Houston is in hassle after needing three overtimes — and overcoming a 14-point deficit at one level — to beat UTSA. The Roadrunners reached the Convention USA title sport final 12 months and will probably be heading to the American Athletic Convention quickly, a nod to the fast turnaround head coach Jeff Traylor has executed. The Roadrunners are a top quality Group of 5 program now. Plus, Houston was on the highway. The Cougars clearly have issues to work out, most notably on protection. Dealing with Texas Tech gained’t be as BIG a step-up in competitors for the Cougars because the Cougars will probably be for Texas Tech after going through Murray State.

PREDICTION: Texas Tech 37, Houston 30

Tech beat Houston on the highway final season, one among their few early highlights from the season. I’ve lined this sport earlier than in Lubbock and Tech flat blew them out. This sport must be a lot nearer. However Tech will get an edge at dwelling and Smith offers them one thing somewhat completely different at quarterback than Shough.