(Sports Network) Site: Folsom Field (53,614) -- Boulder, Colorado. Television: None. Home Record: TTU 1-2, CU 2-1. Away Record: TTU 1-1, CU 0-2. Neutral Record: TTU 1-0, CU 1-0. Conference Record: TTU 1-3, CU 0-2. Series Record: Colorado leads, 5-4.
GAME NOTES: Seeking their first-ever win at Folsom Field, the Texas Tech Red Raiders are set to take on the Colorado Buffaloes in what will be the final regular-season meeting between these two schools as Big 12 Conference foes.
The Red Raiders are reeling a bit after last week's 34-17 loss to the Oklahoma Sooners, who are atop the initial BCS standings released this week. The loss was the third in the last four games for Texas Tech. Beginning with this weekend's tilt, three of the Red Raiders' next four games will be played on the road.
As for the Buffaloes, they are trying to avoid a third straight loss. Last weekend, they were dealt a 31-25 home loss from Baylor. Following this tilt, it's back on the road for two straight for CU.
Colorado holds a 5-4 edge in the all-time series against Texas Tech, and that includes a perfect 4-0 record at Folsom Field.
Texas Tech fell behind early against Oklahoma State, and the offense was never really able to get in sync. Quarterback Taylor Potts took a shot in the first half and went to the hospital at halftime to be checked out for a possible concussion, but the injury was diagnosed as a sprained jaw. He was able to return and play the second half and is listed as probable for Saturday. That's certainly good news for a Red Raider offense that is currently ranked sixth in the nation in passing offense (315.3 ypg). Potts finished the game 28-of-43 for 226 yards and a score, a week after throwing for 462 yards in a win over Baylor. On the season, he is completing 66.1 percent of his passes and has thrown 18 touchdowns against just four interceptions.
Oklahoma State reeled off three rushing touchdowns in the first quarter to take an early 21-0 lead, and Tech was never able to recover. The Cowboys went on to gain 581 yards of total offense, including 225 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Red Raiders' senior linebacker Bront Bird tied a career-high with 14 tackles along with his first career interception. He leads the team with 52 tackles on the year. Overall, the defense has already matched its season total from a year ago with 10 interceptions. Redshirt freshman Jarvis Phillips has registered four of those interceptions, and he leads the team with seven passes defended. As a team, Texas Tech ranks 99th in the nation in scoring defense (32 ppg) and 102nd in total defense (434.9 ypg).
Colorado's offense has been a work in progress throughout the season. In last week's loss to Baylor, Tyler Hansen finished with 207 yards on 21-of-28 passing, while Rodney Stewart led the ground game with 125 yards and two TDs on 30 carries. Ryan Deehan caught seven passes for 70 yards to headline the receiving corps. The Buffaloes drove down to the 19-yard line with five seconds remaining, but Hansen had his final pass attempt batted down in the end zone. The 25 points marked a nice rebound from the previous week's showing, when CU was blanked at Missouri, 26-0. Still, the team enters this contest ranked 102nd in the nation in scoring offense (19.3 ppg).
Defensively, the Buffaloes had no answer for Baylor's ground game, which racked up 309 yards and a pair of scores on the ground. The Bears averaged a jaw-dropping 8.8 yards per carry, as they were able to keep the chains moving against the Buffs' defense. Jered Bell paced the D with nine tackles, while Jimmy Smith finished with seven stops, all solo. The good news for the Buffaloes is they aren't likely to see a heavy dose of the run game from the Red Raiders, who still like to air it out under first-year coach Tommy Tuberville. Still, they'll need to tighten things up in the secondary if they want to hang around in this one. Jalil Brown is the only player on the defense to have notched more than one interception on the year, with two.
If Potts is good to go health-wise, the Red Raiders shouldn't have much trouble moving the ball and putting some points on the board. And if it turns into any kind of a shootout, Hansen and the CU offense will be severely out- matched in this one.
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