Oklahoma State @ Texas Tech preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 25, 2014 ) Texas Tech 35, Oklahoma State 45

Tenth-ranked Oklahoma State is one of three unbeaten Big 12 teams and looks to keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive when it visits high-scoring Texas Tech on Saturday. The Cowboys are tied with Baylor and TCU for the conference lead and figure to be in a shootout with the Red Raiders, who average 46.6 points and allow 40.1.

Oklahoma State averages 40.3 points and is gearing up for an important November that has Baylor, TCU and one-loss Oklahoma on the schedule. "We're very confident in who we are as a team," senior backup quarterback J.W. Walsh said at a press conference. "Moving forward we are excited. I don't think we're as good as we can be right now, which is a good thing. As far as talent and coaching goes, we're right up there with the best of them." Texas Tech was pulverized 63-27 by Oklahoma last Saturday, when it allowed 405 rushing yards. The Red Raiders are ranked 125th nationally in rushing defense at 281.5 yards, ahead of only New Mexico State and Eastern Michigan.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Oklahoma State -3.

ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE (7-0, 4-0 Big 12): Using two quarterbacks is working well as sophomore Mason Rudolph has passed for 2,197 yards and 10 touchdowns while Walsh has accounted for 13 touchdowns (seven passing, six rushing). Juniors Chris Carson (339 rushing yards) and Rennie Childs (232) may get more carries due to Texas Tech's leaky run defense while senior receiver David Glidden leads the Cowboys with 34 receptions for 548 yards. Junior defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah leads the defense with eight sacks while senior defensive end Jimmy Bean (5.5 sacks) and junior free safety Jordan Sterns (team-high 57 tackles) are also having solid seasons.

ABOUT TEXAS TECH (5-3, 2-2): Sophomore quarterback Patrick Mahomes II has been solid by passing for 2,851 yards and 21 touchdowns, and he clicks often with senior receiver Jakeem Grant, who has 56 receptions for 774 yards and ranks seventh in school history with 2,795 receiving yards. Senior running back DeAndre Washington has 837 yards and eight touchdowns as he closes in on his second consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season. Senior cornerback J.J. Gaines has a team-best four interceptions for the much-maligned defense while senior defensive end Pete Robertson has a team-leading 10.5 tackles for losses and freshman middle linebacker Dakota Allen has a team-high 77 tackles.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Oklahoma State has won the past six meetings but Texas Tech owns a 21-18-3 series lead.

2. The Red Raiders have allowed an average of 46.7 points during their six-game skid against the Cowboys.

3. The Cowboys are second nationally in sacks per game (3.86) and third in tackles for losses (9.6).

PREDICTION: Oklahoma State 58, Texas Tech 48