Texas Tech @ Oklahoma State preview
Boone Pickens Stadium
Last Meeting ( Nov 12, 2011 ) Oklahoma State 66, Texas Tech 6
A too-close-for-comfort win over lowly Kansas and a controversy revolving around coach Tommy Tuberville has No. 25 Texas Tech eager to return to the field. The Red Raiders will do so Saturday when they try to end a four-game road losing streak to No. 24 Oklahoma State. Texas Tech barely survived the Jayhawks as Seth Doege, who leads the nation with 34 touchdown passes, threw for 476 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-34 double-overtime victory last week. The bigger story was the video of Tuberville apparently slapping the headphones off a graduate assistant after a penalty on the special teams. It was Tuberville’s team that was slapped around the last time it faced the Cowboys, who rolled to a 66-6 victory in Lubbock last November. Cleveland Browns’ rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden led that assault, but it’s unclear who will be under center for the Cowboys this time. Texas Tech has lost three straight to Oklahoma State and hasn’t won in Stillwater since 2001.
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, FSN. LINE: Oklahoma State -10.5
ABOUT TEXAS TECH (7-3, 4-3 Big 12): The Red Raiders ended a two-game losing streak against Kansas, though it was hardly an impressive showing. Texas Tech allowed a season-high 390 rushing yards and needed running back Eric Stephens’ touchdown pass to Darrin Moore to get past the Jayhawks. As they prepare to face the nation’s 22nd-ranked rushing attack (212.3 yards per game), the Red Raiders have allowed an average of 232.5 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the ground over the last four games. However, Texas Tech still ranks 18th in total defense (324.6), including 11th against the pass (172.3). Doege, who’s fourth in the nation in passing (334.5), leads an offense that averages 38.7 points (18th).
ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE (6-2, 4-2): The Cowboys rolled to a 55-34 victory over West Virginia last week behind junior Clint Chelf (292 yards, four touchdowns), who started in place of freshman Wes Lunt (concussion). Lunt is expected to be cleared this week as is his backup, J.W. Walsh (knee), so it’s unknown who will be under center. Chelf has led the Cowboys to scores 60 percent of the time (eight touchdowns, four field goals in 20 possessions). Running back Joseph Randle leads the Big 12 in rushing (112.0 yards per game), but managed only 3.5 yards per carry against West Virginia (74 yards on 21 carries).
EXTRA POINTS
1. Tuberville apologized Monday, but denies "slapping" assistant Kevin Oliver. He said: "You don't do things like that, and it was obvious I reached up, grabbed his headset and pulled on it." Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby is looking into the incident.
2. Texas Tech has lost the last four trips to Stillwater by a combined 20 points.
3. Oklahoma State has allowed only six sacks, tops in the Big 12.
PREDICTION: Oklahoma State 45, Texas Tech 34