1. Game Info
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Texas Tech Red Raiders (5-4, 2-4) |
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Iowa State Cyclones (6-3, 4-2) |
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November 13th @ 2:30 p.m. |
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Jones AT&T Stadium – Lubbock, Texas |
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Iowa State -10.5 |
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ESPN2 | WatchESPN |
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Sunny 74-46. |
2. Overview
| RANKINGS | TTU | ISU |
|---|---|---|
| ESPN FPI | 64 | 6 |
| FEI Rank: | 72 | 6 |
| Sharp FB Beta-Rank | 78 | 34 |
Want to see the worst preview in the history of this website? Well, keep reading.
I intend on touching on a handful of things when I get the opportunity, but getting a preview that normally takes a few hours to complete plus getting basketball previewed and ready to go is just difficult. Add a brand new head coach that goes on every radio, internet, and television show that he can makes this incredibly difficult to keep up.
Regardless, the beat goes on and that’s just part of the deal. I’d also like to state that despite basketball ramping up, football with 3 games remaining, and a new head coach, I am so glad that the administration decided to make the move to terminate Matt Wells and start the coaching search. This is the way that future coaching searches will probably go, you almost have to get a head-start on the December signing day and waiting, especially if you know, is just a waste of time for everyone involved. The other key, some people think that you might lose the current class, is that it doesn’t matter. If you don’t hire a coach that can keep a class together or make the class better then you’ve probably not hired the right coach. That should have been a pretty good indicator three years ago.
3. Texas Tech Offense vs. Iowa State Defense
| TTU Offense | ISU Defense | |
|---|---|---|
| FEI | 25 | 17 |
| Sharp FB | 35 | 11 |
| Play Efficiency | 30 | 5 |
| Drive Efficiency | 55 | 55 |
| Negative Drives | 22 | 9 |
| Explosive Drives | 37 | 12 |
| Rush Efficiency | 59 | 6 |
| Pass Efficiency | 25 | 35 |
Defensively, Iowa State is elite. Much better than any opponent that Texas Tech has played thus far. Defensive ends Eyioma Uwazurike and Will McDonald IV are monsters on the line, Uwarzurike has 7.5 sacks and McDonald has 10 so yeah, they good. That should be fun. Not a ton of interceptions, but when two guys have 17.5 sacks, there may not be a ton of time to get passes off. Linebackers Jake Hummel and Mike Rose are the leading tacklers, 57 and 56 respectively and they absolutely clean up.
4. Texas Tech Defense vs. Iowa State Offense
| TTU Defense | ISU Offense | |
|---|---|---|
| FEI | 110 | 14 |
| Sharp FB | 111 | 15 |
| Play Efficiency | 101 | 2 |
| Drive Efficiency | 113 | 35 |
| Negative Drives | 115 | 29 |
| Explosive Drives | 93 | 16 |
| Rush Efficiency | 102 | 37 |
| Pass Efficiency | 115 | 23 |
Quarterback Brock Purdy has been excellent. Completing 73% of his passes for 12 touchdowns and 4 picks, to go along with over 2,085 yards thus far and averaging 8.2 yards per attempt. So glad he’s done after this year. Running back Breece Hall is the only guy that really runs the ball, rushing 198 times for 1,121 yards, averaging 5.7 yards a carry along with 14 touchdowns. The main receiving threat is Xavier Hutchinson and he’s doubled up the next closest receiver, which is Charlie Kolar. Hutchinson has 60 catches for 686 yards averaging 11.4 yards a catch and 5 touchdowns. Kolar has 33 catches for 430 yards, 13 yards a catch and 2 touchdowns.
5. Special Teams & Injuries
Not surprisingly, Iowa State is good on special teams, making 19 of 21 field goals, so nearly automatic (hoping I’ve jinxed them here). The Cyclones touchback kickoffs at 61% rate, and maybe their biggest weakness is that they only average 33 yards a punt.
6. Lagniappe
lagniappe | something given as a bonus or extra gift.
At the very least I’m getting the uniform combinations done.
CFN’s Pete Fiutak | Iowa State vs Texas Tech Prediction, Game Preview
Athlon Sports’ Mike Bainbridge | Iowa State vs. Texas Tech Football Prediction and Preview
SI’s Richard Johnson | Texas Tech Goes Back to High School With Joey McGuire Hire
Want an indication who is going to start at quarterback?
Now that #WreckEm has a new football coach, let’s cut to Sonny Cumbie chilling and watching an air drum solo while watching the Lady Raiders. #GunsUp @Heartland_CS pic.twitter.com/8KD4eRMD6i
— Matthew Postins (@PostinsPostcard) November 12, 2021
Joe McGuire on with Greg Tepper with Texas Football.
7. Prediction
I’m taking Iowa State and all of those points despite the fact that I absolutely love Sonny Cumbie and what he’s doing for the football program. The over/under is also 58 and I’ll take the over.
Sources
Football Outsiders
ESPN FPI
Sharp College Football
CFB Stats