Game Preview: Oklahoma State

Texas Tech takes on Oklahoma State under the lights on Saturday and hopefully, no rain. Regardless of the rain, both teams will be challenged and both can blow the other team out. How will Oklahoma State respond to the loss last week against TCU? How will the Red Raiders fare against its first Big 12 opponent this season? Here is a small preview of the game on Saturday.

Oklahoma State Firepower

Even though the Cowboys lost last weekend, Mason Rudolph and his offense put up 500 yards of total offense. Receiver James Washington caught six passes for, as near as makes no difference, 160 yards and a touchdown. The rushing game is no slouch either with Justice Hill scoring four touchdowns and 352 yards through the first four games of the season. The Texas Tech defense will have to come out strong against Rudolph and prevent those deep passes that he has executed so well to date.

Offensive Playmakers for the Red Raiders

Last week’s offensive anomaly was just that, an anomaly. The offense, at home with a sold-out crowd all wearing black will show up like it is capable of. Coutee, Cantrell, Willies and Batson make up one of the strongest receiving corps in the nation. Combine that with Nic Shimonek playing excellently with our running game in Justin Stockton, Tre King and Nasty Nisby and the Red Raider offense is as potent as it has ever been.

The Great Wall of Lubbock

The biggest single factor to either team winning on Saturday will be the defense’s ability to slow the opposing offense down to a reasonable amount of points. In years past, defenses have collapsed and the winner often scores more than six touchdowns. Dakota Allen was the first Red Raider to be awarded Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week since Jah’Shawn Johnson in 2015. If TTU can capitalize on a weak Oklahoma State offensive line and put quick pressure on Mason Rudolph, Tech has a real shot at upsetting the double-digit favorites.