TEXAS TECH
The Red Raiders get a top-10 test against Oklahoma in Norman.
Records: No. 10 Oklahoma 6-1, 3-1 Big 12; Texas Tech 4-3, 1-3. Series history: Oklahoma leads 17-6.
Key players: Texas Tech — QB Nic Shimonek, RB Tre King, DB Justus Parker; Oklahoma — QB Baker Mayfield, RB Rodney Anderson, FS Will Johnson.
Who has the edge
Offense — Oklahoma. The Red Raiders were averaging more than 600 yards per game going into this one last season. They still lost in a shootout. Now the Sooners have the more productive offense, which is second nationally at 582 yards per game. They’re also seventh in scoring (42.0), while the Raiders are 15th (40.3). Most importantly, Oklahoma has Mayfield, who is second nationally with a 73.8 completion percentage while throwing for 2,347 yards and 19 TDs with two interceptions. Defense — Even. The Sooners aren’t impenetrable. Kansas State tied them 35-35 late in the fourth quarter last week, when QB Alex Delton ran for 142 yards and three TDs. Iowa State scored 38 in its upset win in Norman. Heck, even Texas, which couldn’t score against Oklahoma State, managed 24 points. The Sooners still are better than Texas Tech in most categories, but Tech’s allowing only 3.7 yards per rush and it’s foes are 39 percent on third downs (41-of-105). Special teams — Oklahoma. Red Raiders kickers are 0-for4 in their past two games and 1-of-6 in the past three. K Michael Barden went 0-for-3 against West Virginia, missing from 43, 23 and 37 yards. Oklahoma K/P Austin Siebert, who’s also averaging 44.1 yards per punt, is 5-of-5 on FG attempts in his last two outings, including three makes in the win over Texas.
Notable: Oklahoma is on a five-game winning streak in the series, including a 63-27 win two years ago in Norman, Okla. The Red Raiders gave up 405 rushing yards and QB Patrick Mahomes
threw four interceptions in that setback. Mahomes was much better last season, throwing for five TDs with one INT, but the Sooners still won in a shootout, 66-59. The Red Raiders’ last win in the series was a 41-38 upset in 2011 in Norman under then-coach Tommy Tuberville.
About Texas Tech: Shimonek’s been good all season, but the Red Raiders finally looked like a team that missed Mahomes in a 31-13 loss to Iowa State last week, going without a passing TD for the first time in three years. Shimonek was 31-of-41 passing but didn’t throw a TD pass, was sacked twice and intercepted once. The Red Raiders have lost three of their last four games, with the only win in that stretch over Kansas.
About Oklahoma: The Sooners (6-1, 3-1) are trying to put a devastating home loss to Iowa State behind them. They survived a defensive struggle with Texas (29-24) in the Red River Rivarly, then escaped a shootout with K-State 42-35, and don’t forget they barely held off winless Baylor 49-41, so they’re vulnerable. But if it’s Mayfield vs. Shimonek, go with the always entertaining Austinite Mayfield every time.