NCAA Football Week 13: Red Raiders vs. Sooners

Graham Harrell tries to make the final Heisman push as the Red Raiders try to punch their BCS Championship tickets

Red Raiders vs. Sooners Overview:
The Texas Tech Red Raiders and Oklahoma Sooners each put solid beat downs on Big 12 opponents in their previous games. Fans with Texas Tech Red Raiders tickets saw their team drop 56 points on the previously No. 8 ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys in Lubbock. The Oklahoma Sooners beat the Texas A&M Aggies like the proverbial government mule with a score of 66-28. The Oklahoma Sooners will welcome the Texas Tech Red Raiders to Norman, Oklahoma, in what could be the college football game of the year. Texas Tech Red Raiders tickets are sure to be a hot sell, even with the Raiders on the road.

Texas Tech Red Raiders Offense:
The spread offense of Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Mike Leach is a storm of passes that not even the impressive Texas Longhorns defense could stop. QB Graham Harrell is setting records and is the current frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy. Graham Harrell’s favorite target is the best offensive player in college football, WR Michael Crabtree. With so much focus of Michael Crabtree, receivers like Detron Lewis and Eric Lewis are able to run free against lesser DBs. Texas Tech Red Raiders tickets feature RBs Shannon Woods and Baron Batch who combine to provide a solid running game.

Texas Tech Red Raiders Defense:
Fans with Texas Tech Red Raiders tickets have always loved their offense, but the defense is really making strides. Based on the Tampa-2 version of the 4-3, the Texas Tech Red Raiders defense uses speed and zones to slow opposing offenses down. Lightning-quick LBs Brian Duncan and Marlon Williams can chase down RBs and TEs from behind while DEs Brandon Williams and Daniel Howard get after the passer. Safeties Daniel Charbonnet and Darcel McBath lead the Texas Tech Red Raiders in interceptions and are heavy hitters in the run game as well.

Oklahoma Sooners Offense:
Running backs DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown put the Boomer in the Oklahoma Sooners as they rip apart opposing defenses on the ground. The Oklahoma Sooners always love the power run, but QB Sam Bradford has emerged as one of the best in the country as well. WRs Juaquin Iglesias and Manuel Johnson provide solid targets on the outside with TE Jermaine Grisham catching balls over the middle. The Oklahoma Sooners offensive line is one of the best in the nation and is led by LT Phil Loadholt.

Oklahoma Sooners Defense:
The injury to great DE Auston English has been a serious blow to the dangerous Oklahoma Sooners defense, but there is plenty of talent waiting to stand up. LB Travis Lewis has been the surprise of the year for the Oklahoma Sooners and leads the team in tackles as a red-shirt freshman. MLB Austin Box has also been thrust into the starting lineup due to injury. LB/S Nic Harris is the emotional leader on defense and is a true headhunter behind the line. CB Dominique Franks is the best cover man on the Oklahoma Sooners.

Red Raiders Keys to Victory:
Fans with Texas Tech Red Raiders tickets know that if QB Graham Harrell can be protected, he can shred any defense. Without Auston English to worry about, Graham Harrell should have significant time to throw than he would otherwise. The excellent offensive line handled Brian Orakpo and the Texas Longhorns’ front seven well and should do the same against the Oklahoma Sooners. Getting the ball to Michael Crabtree is a given, and the more touches he gets the better the chance of the Texas Tech Red Raiders winning. RB Baron Batch can be a huge asset by establishing the running game.

The Tampa-2 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders is not well suited for the power run of the Oklahoma Sooners, but adjustments can be made to stuff the impressive attack. Safeties Daniel Charbonnet and Darcel McBath will both be brought into the box to help the undersized front seven with the big offensive line of the Oklahoma Sooners. The defensive line has to protect the small LBs by any means, even if they have to go to the ground. Fans with Texas Tech Red Raiders tickets hope that the Texas Tech Red Raiders secondary can shut out Juaquin Iglesias and get in the face of Sam Bradford.

Oklahoma Sooners Keys to Victory:
The left side of the Oklahoma Sooners offense is anchored by LT Phil Loadholt and LG Duke Robinson, and the pair needs to have a big game blowing open holes for DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown. The weakness of the Texas Tech Red Raiders defense is the power run, but they usually jump to an early lead so the run becomes less of a factor. The Oklahoma Sooners must stick with the run at all costs to not only exploit the weaknesses but to control the clock. Sam Bradford needs to mind the safeties and look for targets in the seams of the cover-2 zones.

Against Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree the Oklahoma Sooners cannot sit back in coverage. Getting to Graham Harrell is the only way to stop the offense and with Auston English out, blitzes will be called up to help with the rush. OLB Travis Lewis is excellent in coverage, and he can make a play on the ball if it comes near him. Even with all their efforts against the pass, the Oklahoma Sooners cannot go to sleep against the run either. Michael Crabtree cannot be allowed in single coverage, and No. 5 needs to be blanketed on every play.

Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma Outlook:
The Texas Tech Red Raiders and Oklahoma Sooners are not only playing for the right to be the best in the Big 12 but the No. 1 ranking in the nation will probably go to the victor as well. Fans with Texas Tech Red Raiders tickets also want to see Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree earn more stats towards their respective Heisman races. National TV audiences and all the eyes of college football fans will focus on the matchup in Norman, Oklahoma. Even fans with Texas Longhorns tickets will be watching with vested interest.

The Oklahoma Sooners are playing at home and have the perfect offense to milk the clock against the Texas Tech Red Raiders. The big advantage that the Texas Tech Red Raiders have however is the fact that DE Auston English will not be coming after Graham Harrell. The Texas Longhorns had good success until DE Brian Orakpo went down and their pass rush fell apart, the same will happen to the Oklahoma Sooners. Fans with Texas Tech Red Raiders tickets will watch the offensive barrage of Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree continue unabated.