Here and there
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Texas Tech Red Raiders (0-1, 0-0) |
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Oregon Ducks (1-0, 0-0) |
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September 9th @ 6:00 p.m. |
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Jones AT&T Stadium | Lubbock, Texas |
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Oregon -6.5 |
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FOX | FOX Sports |
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98, Mostly Sunny. |
Prologue
Oregon is getting a great tune-up in playing Portland State at home. Oregon’s strength is probably the offense where the Ducks have 29 touchdown passes and 14 rushing all by himself, averaging 276 yards passing and 8.8 yards per attempt. Add in Bucky Irving at running back who ran for over 1,000 yards last year and it’s an offense that is very potent. Not only that, but receiver Tony Franklin was a revelation last year and returns where he had 891 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns last year.
Where Texas Tech might have a leg up? Oregon replaces 4 of 5 offensive linemen and although they have had a game to tune-up, it might be a bit different on the road with a loud crowd. I also need to mention that Dennis Wilburn should play, but Jacob Rodriguez is out 4 to 6 weeks, which is a bummer. Jessiah Pierre will fill his spot and Ben Roberts will fill the empty spot.
On the defensive side of the ball, Oregon struggled quite a bit, which is probably tough for Dan Lanning to stomach. Jordan Burch and Matayo Uiagalelei have been added on the front lines while Khyree Jackson and Nikko Reed were added at cornerback to help a pass defense that struggled.
The Bakay Index
Team Momentum: Oregon is coming off of an absolute drubbing of Portland State, scoring 81 points and, no matter the opponent, that’s still impressive. They’ll be arriving in Lubbock absolutely feeling it and I think Texas Tech will want to impress their fans on Saturday after the result in Wyoming. Advantage, push.
Quarterback Controversy: I haven’t even been online that much, but I can feel this controversy arriving between Shough and Morton. It’s a 6th sense or me being in tune with the universe. Shough is going to get a long leash, regardless of what you think, and my guess is that this Oregon means a lot to him. I think he’ll bounce back and for now, advantage Shough.
Managing Expectations: Joey McGuire does get it. I think he knows it wasn’t a great game for his team, they weren’t ready. He gets the frustration’s of fans and he gets the fact that he knows he’s not wired like most people. Advantage McGuire.
Joey McGuire said the Texas Tech fans should be able to react how they want to.
His wife Debbie told him he shouldn’t read social media, but she knows he’s a messed up person in the head😂
Interesting perspective here on the fanbase after Texas Tech’s loss Saturday. #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/DQwXHWiqDv
— KTXT Sports 🌵 (@KTXT_Sports) September 4, 2023
Quickie Previews & Recaps
This Week: Illinois @ Kansas (Friday, September 8th @ 6:30 pm on ESPN2)
Last Week: Kansas 48, Missouri State 17
I don’t think that Jaylon Daniels played, but Jason Bean played and obviously took care of busines here. Illinois squeaked by Toledo and the Illini will have their hands full. Kansas is favored by 3 and I tend to favor the more dynamic offense in Kansas.
This Week: Utah @ Baylor (Saturday, September 9th @ 11:00 am on ESPN)
Last Week: I did not have this result on my bingo card. Sawyer Robertson got the start (maybe) but it was Blake Shapen that played significantly better, who is now injured. This could be a really rough game for Baylor in facing next-year conference mate in Utah. Utah is only favored by 6 after easily handling Florida at home.
This Week: Troy @ Kansas State (Saturday, September 9th @ 11:00 am on FS1)
Last Week: Kansas State 45, Southeast Missouri 0
Absolutely throttled Southeast Missouri and it doesn’t really get tougher this week with Troy. The Wildcats are favored by 16.5 and would expect a pretty Wildcat heaving drubbing of Troy.
This Week: Southern Utah @ BYU (Saturday, September 9th @ 2:00 pm on ESPN+)
Last Week: BYU 14, Sam Houston 0
BYU struggled to get through Sam Houston and I said last week that the Bearkats had good athletes and would maybe be a tough out. Not knowing anything about Southern Utah and there not being a line, give me BYU by a decent amount here.
This Week: Iowa @ Iowa State (Saturday, September 9th @ 2:30 pm on FOX)
Last Week: Iowa State 30, Northern Iowa 9
This is a game that Iowa State usually struggles to win against Northern Iowa. A sufficient warmup for Cyclones who face state rival Iowa. Iowa is favored by 4 and if I knew more about the ISU offense, I’d be inclined to pick ISU. Iowa’s offense is still, well, Iowa’s offense.
This Week: SMU @ Oklahoma (Saturday, September 9th @ 5:00 pm on ESPN+)
Last Week: Oklahoma 73, Arkansas State 0
Oklahoma decided to do bad things and take it out on an obviously lesser opponent. SMU took Louisiana Tech to the woodshed and OU will have a tougher go than Arkansas State. OU is favored by 16.5.
This Week: Duquesne @ West Virginia (Saturday, September 9th @ 5:00 pm on ESPN+)
Last Week: Penn State 38, West Virginia 15
Not much of a chance against PSU, but the Mountaineers should get back on track against the Dukes. I am presuming that this is Duquesne’s mascot. No line here.
This Week: Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh (Saturday, September 9th @ 5:30 pm on CW Network)
Last Week: Cincinnati 66, Eastern Kentucky 13
I thought that Cincy would roll and they did, while this week. Slightly surprised that Pitt is favored by 8, that seems like a big line, but maybe Vegas doesn’t trust Cincy just yet.
This Week: Texas @ Alabama (Saturday, September 9th @ 6:00 pm on ESPN)
Last Week: Texas 37, Rice 10
A good, but not blowout performance against Rice. Now Texas will have future conference opponent Alabama and the game was close last year in Austin, but in Tuscaloosa, maybe this one isn’t as close. Alabama is favored by 7.
This Week: Oregon @ Texas Tech (Saturday, September 9th @ 6:00 pm on FOX)
Last Week: Wyoming 35, Texas Tech 33
I’ve previously discussed the loss and this week presents quite the opportunity against Oregon, who is favored by 7.
This Week: UCF @ Boise State (Saturday, September 9th @ 6:00 pm on FS1)
Last Week: UCF 56, Kent State 6
UCF throttled Kent State, huge games from their running backs and Plumlee. Scored 14 points each quarter. UCF is favored by 2.5 on the road.
This Week: Houston @ Rice (Saturday, September 9th @ 6:00 pm on NFL Network)
Last Week: Houston 17, UTSA 14
Houston squeaked by the Roadrunners, led by Donovan Smith throwing the rock. Houston will take on cross-town rival Rice and are favored by 9.
This Week: Nicholls @ TCU (Saturday, September 9th @ 7:00 pm on ESPN+)
Last Week: Colorado 45, TCU 42
A shocking result for TCU, but Colorado had some talented players. No line for Nicholls State
This Week: Oklahoma State @ Arizona State (Saturday, September 9th @ 9:30 pm)
Last Week: Oklahoma State 27, Central Arkansas 13
Cowboy fans were not happy with this game, Garret Rangel, Gunnar Gundy, and Alan Bowman all played, with Bowman having a rough game and Gundy playing well. Oklahoma State is going to have to be much better offensively, but are favored by 3.