Matchup: Texas Tech (1-1) vs. North Texas (2-0)
Date: September 14th, 2024
Location: Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, Texas
Kickoff: 11:00 am

Texas Tech is off to a dreadful start in 2024, there’s not really any way around it. The Red Raiders are 120th out of 133 teams in penalties per game, 107th in average point differential, 57th in yards per play offensively, and 99th in yards per play defensively. None of that is conducive to playing great football. 

The Red Raiders nearly got taken to the deep end of the pool before gasping for breath at the last possible second to survive 52-51 in overtime against ACU. Then in week two with a loss to Washington State 37-16, Joey McGuire continued his road woes falling to 3-9 away from Lubbock in his Texas Tech tenure. 

Meanwhile North Texas is 2-0 for the first time since 2018. Sure, it’s wins over South Alabama and SFA, but the offense has looked competent under former Red Raider Eric Morris and the defense isn’t any worse than Texas Tech’s. 

On one hand, Texas Tech losing Vinny Sciury for the season plus the questionable availability of Sterling Porcher, CJ Baskerville, John Curry, Harvey Dyson, Mo Horn, Brendan Jordan, Quincy Ledet and Braylon Lux has to be a huge factor this Saturday. That’s not even mentioning the potential return of Tahj Brooks, who is still on the questionable list but is scheduled to practice and potentially play against North Texas. 

If Brooks does play, how many carries? If Lux, Horn and Baskerville all play, does the defense turn a 180? 

Beyond the injury report, this North Texas offense just poses threats to this defense. They’ve averaged 7.2 yards per play offensively, they are 55/45 pass to run and have averaged 384 yards and 143 yards respectively. They’ve got a giant talent influx with 20+ first year transfers on the two-deep. They’ve got two dynamic receivers and former TCU QB Chandler Morris slangin’ the rock. There are also two former Red Raiders starting on the offensive line. 

On the other hand, Joey McGuire is 7-4 after a loss since 2022. That number balloons to 6-1 in home games following losses. Texas Tech lost to a ranked NC State team in his first season and the team responded with a ranked win over Texas in overtime. They lost two more ranked road games before destroying West Virginia 48-10 in their return home. After the TCU road loss in 2022? They beat Kansas  by 15 the following week.

The trend continued in 2023. After losing to Wyoming the team lost to 13th ranked Oregon at home, the one loss, before beating Tarleton. The final two were wins over Houston and TCU after losses to West Virginia and BYU respectively. 

McGuire is 11-3 in Lubbock overall. The Jones should be full and the atmosphere will be rockin’.

Texas Tech will win this game. If Tahj Brooks and the questionable defensive backs play big roles, they'll cover comfortably.

Traveling in for the game? Visit Lubbock has you covered for Things to Do, Can’t Miss Experiences and Where to Stay!