A challenging road environment is the backdrop for this Texas Tech week eight showdown with the defending Big 12 champs. Arizona State is coming off a humiliating defeat against Utah. Kenny Dillingham’s team is fighting for a chance to defend its title. However, one more loss at this point in the season likely dooms any repeat chances. Meanwhile, Joey McGuire’s team comes to Tempe as one of the hottest teams in all of college football, looking to remain unbeaten. What is the key to victory for the Red Raiders to remain unbeaten?
Texas Tech Week Eight: Defensive Line X-Factor Against Arizona State
Who Is Playing Quarterback?
Texas Tech fans saw an unfortunately common sight from QB1 against Kansas. It was Behren Morton hobbling off the field with an injury. McGuire confirmed it was the same type of injury he suffered in the week one victory over Arkansas Pine-Bluff. “Behren’s day-to-day. He feels a lot better than what he did after the Arkansas-Pine Bluff game,” McGuire said at Texas Tech’s press conference on Monday, Oct. 13.
Normally, players need to log some reps during the week to prove they are ready for the game. However, even if Morton does not practice, that would not preclude him from playing against the Sun Devils. But there isn’t major angst if backup quarterback Will Hammond has to play. Between Morton’s injuries and blow-outs, the young signal caller has seen significant playing time in five of six games.
Offensive Front Has Work Cut Out
Whoever is taking the snaps Saturday in this Texas Tech week eight matchup it is going to require a great performance from the offensive line. If it is Hammond playing quarterback, the rushing game, led by Cameron Dickey, can take lots of pressure off the backup quarterback. However, Arizona State ranks third in the Big 12 (30th nationally) in rush defense. Not only have they been stingy against the run, but they can also rush the passer. The Sun Devils rank second in the Big 12 in quarterback sacks and tackles for loss per game. However, if this pass rush can’t get home, the coverage behind them hasn’t held up well. They are in the middle third in the Big 12 passing defense and scoring defense (10th and 11th, respectively).
Sun Devils’ Offense Has Potential
While it hasn’t been a high-flying offense, there is still plenty of talent on Arizona State’s offense. Quarterback Sam Leavitt has been practicing all week and appears in line to start on Saturday. In four games against FBS opponents with Leavitt as the starting quarterback, the Sun Devils are averaging 27 points and 414 yards. Wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is a first-round talent for the NFL draft who is averaging 11.1 yards per reception. Additionally, Arizona State ranks 5th in the Big 12 (29th nationally) in rushing offense.
Defensive Line Sandstorm
But neither the Arizona State passing or rushing attacks will get going if Shiel Wood’s defensive front has anything to say about it. The Red Raiders are tied for fifth in the FBS with 21.0 sacks this season. David Bailey shares the FBS lead with 8.5 sacks of his own. That includes three sacks from this past weekend in a victory over Kansas that set the single-school record with nine as a team. But his fellow EDGE rusher, Romello Height, makes the best pass-rushing duo in the country. There is even more opportunity for success on the interior of the defense.
Arizona State lost what appears to be its best linemen in Ben Coleman for the season, and redshirt freshman Wade Helton will be making only his second start at center. The status of defensive tackle Skyler Gill-Howard is not optimistic for this week. But insert A.J. Holmes Jr. He played a season-high 44 snaps as well as logging two sacks in the game against Kansas. He is extremely versatile. So far this season, he has played 105 snaps at defensive tackle and 66 at defensive end. Holmes Jr. and Lee Hunter will look to take advantage of a depleted Sun Devils offensive line.
Texas Tech Week Eight Prediction
The Red Raiders head to Tempe as one of only two teams in the country to rank in the top 10 for scoring defense (4th), total defense (9th), as well as scoring offense (2nd) and total offense (1st). This Red Raider team can beat teams in multiple ways. Meanwhile, Arizona State hasn’t scored more than 27 points against a P5 opponent this year, which includes a game against Baylor who has one of the worst defenses in the Big 12. The Sun Devils’ defense will not be able to slow down the Texas Tech offense enough to threaten a win. Tyson makes a play or two, but the defensive front has another huge day, with this game being decided before the fourth quarter.
Texas Tech 42 Arizona State 20
Main Image: Nathan Giese/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
