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Texas Tech travels to Manhattan looking for sixth win of the season

It’s the penultimate occasion for the Red Raiders to earn a Bowl bid

NCAA Football: Kansas at Kansas State Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports

With the end of the season coming too fast, Texas Tech plays its last true away game of the season (Baylor will be at a neutral site in Arlington) against Kansas State, led for the twenty-seventh season by coach Bill Snyder.

The Red Raiders want the sixth victory of the season, the one that would send them to a Bowl, while the Wildcats, with their 4-6 record, risk to snap a series of eight consecutive postseason appearances that even includes a Cotton Bowl and a Fiesta Bowl.

NCAA Football: Kansas at Kansas State Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports

The first problem the Wildcats have this season is an enormous drop of the offensive production. If in 2017 they scored 32.3 points per game (39th in the nation), in 2018 they just average 21.1, and this ranks them 120th in FBS, even behind their state rival Kansas.

It can be noted the passing game is the biggest problem. Kansas State averages 154.9 passing yards per game, and its two quarterbacks, Skylar Thompson and lex Delton, only threw seven TDs and five interceptions.

The only time this season a Kansas State quarterback threw for more than 200 yards is on September 15, when Thompson threw for 213 against UTSA.

On the other side, the running game is quite effective, with senior back Alex Barnes who already passed the 1000-yard mark and is also becoming dangerous when he has to come out from the backfield and receive.

NCAA Football: Oklahoma State at Kansas State Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports

Talking about defense, the Wildcats nearly allow 25 points/game, and that’s in line with the performances of previous years. It’s interesting Kansas State lays among the worst teams in creating turnovers and in the production of tackles for loss and sacks.

Without any doubt, this is a game the Red Raiders have every possibility to win this game, against a team that’s not in its best moment. This would mean Texas Tech will play in a Bowl game, the last goal remaining.