A pivotal Texas Tech week five game against Cincinnati can shape both teams’ seasons in either direction. They enter this game with a combined 7-1 record, with the only loss at the hands of an undefeated Washington State team. Yet, the best win between the two teams is a coin flip between Arizona State and Pitt. With a prime-time kickoff descending on Lubbock this Saturday, what is the key area Texas Tech must excel in to extend its five-game home winning streak?
Both Offenses Have Been Cooking
This is the last time this following reference will pop up for the rest of the article. The schedule has not been a murder’s row for either team, so digest the numbers and statistics however one might see fit. Scott Satterfield and Joey McGuire have seen their offenses excel for much of this season. The teams rank second-and-third respectively in the Big 12 in total offense with Texas Tech averaging 487.5 yards per game and Cincinnati averaging 467.5. And like most offenses, it starts with the quarterbacks. Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton has a career record of 9-2 as the starting quarterback for the Red Raiders. Yes, his worst career performance came two weeks ago against Washington State. However, he has thrown the most touchdowns in the Big 12 (12) and only two interceptions. He is also averaging 293.8 yards passing per game.
Meanwhile, on Cincinnati’s roster, the transfer quarterback from Indiana has been the spark this team needed after last year. Brendan Sorsby has eight touchdowns and zero interceptions in his 118 pass attempts for the Bearcats. Sorsby is also getting some help from the Cincinnati rushing game, led by Corey Kiner. Kiner currently ranks seventh in the Big 12, averaging 101 yards rushing per game, while the Bearcats are averaging 197.5 a game. It will be interesting to see how an improving Red Raider defense plays against another solid rushing attack. The Red Raiders held Arizona State to 94 yards rushing, well below their 229 average leading into the game. But this is also the same team that allowed Washington State and Abilien Christian to combine for 410 rushing yards against them.
Red Zone Challenge
While both offenses seemingly will move the ball plenty between the twenty’s, the key to this Texas Tech week five showdown is what occurs inside the twenty’s. Cincinnati is one of seven FBS teams that has yet to allow a rushing touchdown this season. Overall, they rank 14th nationally in red zone defense. So far this season, the Bearcats have allowed their opponents to get into the red zone nine times. They have only yielded two touchdowns. Meanwhile the Red Raiders rank 47th in red zone offense.
What’s more of a concern for the Red Raiders is that they rank 10th nationally in trips into the red zone. So Texas Tech offensive coordinator Zach Kittley has to find a way to finish drives with more touchdowns. The Red Raiders have five rushing scores and a total of 13 touchdowns in their 21 red zone possessions. This situation appears to be a prime opportunity for running back Tahj Brooks to do the heavy lifting. Brooks has been phenomenal in the three games he has played this season. He has surpassed 100 yards rushing in every game, but only two touchdowns so far. With standout transfer wide receiver Josh Kelly questionable for this game, this is the exact time to have Brooks carry the ball 30-35 times and finish off red zone possessions with touchdowns.
Texas Tech Week Five Prediction
Under McGuire, the Red Raiders are 13-3 at home. Texas Tech showed signs of growth last week in a victory over Arizona State. Meanwhile, Cincinnati is coming off their first shutout of a major conference opponent since 1995. Someone’s good vibes have to come to at least a brief end. It is time for the on-paper talent of the Red Raiders to finally click. McGuire has done a great job of pulling this team out of the ditch after the Washington State debacle. Cincinnati is looking more like fools gold because of their schedule, but certainly not a terrible team. After “learning how to win” on the heels of a strong defensive effort, the Red Raider offense fires for all four quarters and pulls away in the second half to push Texas Tech to 4-1.
Texas Tech 45, Cincinnati 24
