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Coming off a heartbreaking loss to TCU, Tech faces #5 Baylor in Arlington. How did Tech respond after last week's win and last year's loss? Did Baylor get their 5th straight win over Texas Tech, or did Tech improve to 4-1? Let's find out.
1st Quarter:
Baylor sets the tone early on a 3rd and 4 as Shock Linwood breaks as 79 yard TD run to put Baylor up 7-0. A less than 100% Patrick Mahomes, gets the start, and find sophmore Zach Austin for a 55 yard TD pass to tie it up 7-7. Baylor would respond immediately with a 6 play, 75 yard drive that ended with a 28 yard pass from Seth Russell to KD Cannon. Baylor leads 14-7. Tech would end up not being able to answer and Baylor was off to the races jumping out to a 21-7 lead. With their backs already against the wall, Tech would go for it on a 4th and 6 and convert as Mahomes connects with Batson for 37 yards to get Tech back to within seven, 21-14.
Baylor would answer immediately as Seth Russell completes an 87 yard pass to the Tech 2 yard line to setup his own QB sneak, giving Baylor a 28-14 lead.
End of 1st Qtr: Texas Tech 14.... Baylor 28
2nd Quarter:
Forced to punt and needing a stop, the Tech defense finally slows down the Baylor offense forcing a 3 and out. The opportunity is cut short as Tech gets into Baylor territory but DeAndre Washington fumbles and gives Baylor a short field. Baylor would score in 3 plays to take a commanding 35-14 lead.
Needing to get back into the game fast, Tech misfires and Mahomes throws his first INT of the game and Tech fans start to see the writing on the wall. Baylor scores quickly going up 42-14. Tech continues to fight and drives down the field and scores getting Tech back to within 21 points as Mahomes hits Batson for 13 yards.
Baylor would put an exclamation point on the end of their first half with an 81 yard drive and the 2nd Seth Russell rushing TD to put Baylor up 49-21. Tech and Baylor would exchange turnovers and the Red Raiders would limp into halftime searching for answers.
Halftime: Texas Tech 21... Baylor 49
3rd Quarter:
Texas Tech would get the ball to start the 3rd and would get on the board during the first drive as Patrick Mahomes runs it in from 25 yards out to get Tech back to within 3 scores. 49-28. Baylor would answer right back and seemingly put the game away with an 11 play 75 yard drive. Baylor leads 56-28. The second half had a much slower pace to it as Baylor took their foot off the gas and would cruise the rest of the way.
End of 3rd Qtr: Texas Tech 28... Baylor 56
4th Quarter:
Davis Webb would enter the game in the 4th, with the game pretty much over and keeping Mahomes from any further or freak injury. Webb would complete 8 of 15 for 115 and a TD to Johnathan Giles for 13 yards.
FINAL: Texas Tech 35.... Baylor 63
Game Notes:
Texas Tech 17 penalties for 142 yards
Texas Tech committed 4 turnovers to Baylor's 1
Tech gained more first downs 27-26
Baylor outgained Tech in total yardage 680-636
Tech had 530 yards passing
Baylor had 368 yards rushing
Baylor won Time of Possession 30:47 to 29:13
Mahomes threw for 415 yards
Linwood rushed for 221 yards
Prediction vs. Reality
My Prediction: Texas Tech 45 - Baylor 38 (5-0, 2-0)
Reality: I thought Tech would be able to bring some of the same magic in the 2014 game and get over the hump this year. However, turnovers and penalities once again raised their ugly heads and kept Tech from keeping pace with Baylor who was in control from the beginning.
My prediction summary: To many Tech fans, Tech outplayed Baylor last year and should have won. A couple of calls that went against Tech and not against Baylor ruffled some feathers, but this one is pretty easy to see the outcome. Tech is catching Baylor early enough in the season to rattle Seth Russell and finally get over the new look Baylor Bears.
You can find my full season predictions here.
Kliff Kingsbury Post Game Quotes
Branden Jackson Post Game Quotes
Pete Robertson Post Game Quotes
Next Week: vs. Iowa State at Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, 2:30 pm kickoff.
As always, tell us what you thought of the game. The good and the bad and what needs to happen going into next week. You can send questions for the mailbag to me on twitter @avcoachsmith or in the comments below, titled Mailbag. You can also submit questions for the podcast and we will answer them on Sunday.