Texas @ Texas Tech preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 19, 2009 ) Texas Tech 24, Texas 34

There may be a new man in charge, but it appears to be business as usual for the Texas Tech offense heading into Saturday’s matchup against No. 4 Texas at Jones AT&T Stadium.

Two games into the Tommy Tuberville era, the Red Raiders (2-0) have put up gaudy offensive numbers in wins over SMU (35-27) and New Mexico (52-17). Senior quarterback Taylor Potts enters Saturday’s game averaging 326 yards per game and has seven touchdown passes. The Red Raiders are averaging 446 yards per game.

Things get a bit more difficult for the Red Raiders this week, as they step up in class against Texas (2-0) in the Big 12 opener for both teams. The Longhorns haven’t looked dazzling in wins over Rice (34-17) and Wyoming (34-7), but they are getting closer to identifying their primary offensive weapons. Junior Fozzy Whitaker, who rushed for 62 yards on seven carries (8.9 yards per carry) and a touchdown against Wyoming, becomes the third back to start for Texas this year, while freshman receiver Mike Davis had a breakout game last week with seven catches for 104 yards and a touchdown.

UT sophomore quarterback Garrett Gilbert has played solid, if not spectacular football so far, completing 62 percent of his passes for 394 yards (197 yards per game) and one touchdown, but more importantly, he has played virtually mistake free and has no interceptions.

The Longhorns’ dedication to improving the run-pass balance is beginning to reap dividends, with UT averaging 182 yards per game on the ground, nearly 40 more yards per game than in 2009. Meanwhile, UT’s defense has continued its stingy ways, holding opponents to 165 yards passing and 73 yards rushing per game.

Tuberville came to Lubbock this season promising to run a more balanced offense and to put more emphasis on defense. So far, they have run 94 passing plays and 67 rushing plays. Defensively, they still have a little ways to go, as opponents are averaging 103 rushing yards and 277 passing yards per game.

Potts’ primary receiving targets are senior Lyle Leonig, junior Jacoby Franks and senior Detron Lewis. In the win over New Mexico, Potts completed passes to nine different receivers. Rushing duties are handled by sophomore Eric Stephens and senior Baron Batch, who have helped tech average 112 yards rushing per game.

While Texas has won nine of the last 11 games in the series that dates back to 1928, the two recent Tech victories both took place in Lubbock. In the now legendary 2008 contest, the Red Raiders upset a top-ranked Texas team, 39-33. In 2002, the Red Raiders were unranked when they took down the fourth-ranked Horns 42-38.

Texas leads the overall series 44-15, including last year’s 34-24 win at Austin, and is 16-10 in Lubbock. Mack Brown holds a 9-3 edge against Texas Tech.