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Stats That Matter | Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Baylor Bears

A statistical based comparison between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Baylor Bears.

Brett Deering

THE DEFENSES

STATISTIC
Passes Broken Up 42 38
QB Hurries 10 30
Fumbles Forced 3 11
Interceptions 7 13
Sacks 15.0 13.0
Tackles for Loss 55.0 44.0
3rd Down Conversion % 37.66% 45.19%
Rushing Yards Allowed 161.73 (69, 6) 186.40 (88, 8)
Rushing Avg. Yards/Attempt 4.33 4.50
Passing Yards Allowed 177.64 (11, 1) 317.60 (118, 9)
Passing Avg Yards/Attempt 6.3 7.5

I think that the person doing QB hurries for Texas Tech has a very strict definition of what a QB hurry actually is.

A lot more turnovers for Baylor, more than doubling up Baylor. It doesn't appear that the turnovers is the problem for baylor, but it's been the overall yards. Just epically bad on some level, but perhaps the difference is that Baylor couldn't stop any non-conference opponent, but Texas Tech did. In conference play, Baylor is giving up 190 yards a game on the ground, while Texas Tech is giving up 195. So Texas Tech had a terrific non-conference run, but in conference play, Texas Tech has been worse than Baylor and Baylor is regarded as having the worst defense in the conference (perhaps WVU, but it's not well-thought of). This is where the Texas Tech defense has failed, which is during conference play.

Texas Tech does look better in the passing yards, but again, the non-conference play is somewhat skewing the results. Baylor is giving up about 315 yards in the air no matter the opponent, while Texas Tech is giving up 85 against three non-conference opponents that couldn't pass the ball and 212 against conference opponents and one conference opponent that only threw for 29 yards in Kansas.

THE OFFENSES

STATISTIC
Red Zone TD % 69.64% (39/56) 68.63% (35/51)
3rd Down Conversion % 48.00% 45.19%
Passing Yards 362.18 (1, 1) 354.70 (3, 2)
Yards/Passing Attempt 7.9 9.2
Rushing Yards 133.27 (94, 10) 210.90 (25, 3)
Rushing Yards Per Attempt 4.27 5.05
Touchdowns | Turnovers 52 | 18 57 | 19
Turnover Margin -0.73 -0.00
Yards/Play 6.42 7.03
Pass Attempt / Sacks Allowed 28.11 50.25

Very similar teams except that Baylor is running the ball in conference play and doing it with some authority. In conference play, Baylor is running for 212 yards a game and in non-conference play, they ran the ball for 207 yards a game. Compare that to Texas Tech who ran the ball for 230 yards a game and is now running the ball for just 97 yards a game in conference play. That's pretty staggering and if you ever wanted a reason as to why Neal Brown isn't getting the job done, that's the first place that I'd point. Not the passing statistics, which really are just fine, but the fact that the Texas Tech running game becomes completely neutered during conference play. The same thing essentially happened last year too, 105 in conference and 183 in non-conference.

The other thing to note is that QB Nick Florence and WR Terrance Williams are incredibly dynamic. Moreso Williams who is just terrific and someone that scares me like no ones business because I think it will take no time for him to get behind the Texas Tech cornerbacks and simply run past any and all safeties. And if you want evidence of that, then look no futher than the 9.2 yards per passing attempt. I'd also add that Baylor and Oklahoma St. both do a much better job of protecting their quarterbacks. OSU was about 1 sack for every 50 passing attempts and Baylor is the same way. If Florence is able to simply stand in the pocket and toss the ball down the field, you can expect yet another long day for Texas Tech.

All helmet images via MG's Helmets and thanks to College Football Statistics for these stats.