Can Sooners end regular season on high note vs. Texas Tech?

Oklahoma vs. Texas Tech

When: Saturday, 6:30 p.m. at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas

Records: Texas Tech (6-5 general, 4-4 Big 12); Oklahoma (6-5, 3-5)

Last assembly: Oklahoma beat Texas Tech, 52-21, on Oct. 30, 2021.

TV: FS1

What’s at stake

Both groups bought a cat off their again final week, clinching bowl-eligibility in two other ways.

Texas Tech claimed back-to-back bowl appearances for the primary time since 2012-13, the transition years from Tommy Tuberville to Kliff Kingsbury. A win over the Sooners could be the Red Raiders’ first since 2011, breaking a 10-game shedding streak within the collection.

Oklahoma’s 28-13 win over Oklahoma State final week upheld its 24-year bowl streak. After being a preseason top 10 team, the Sooners need to enhance their bowl bid and construct momentum to end Year 1 underneath head coach Brent Venables.

When Texas Tech has the ball

The Red Raiders’ offense has been a wild expertise underneath offensive coordinator Zach Kittley. After what he did at Western Kentucky, constructing Bailey Zappe and the Hilltoppers’ offense, fireworks had been the expectation in Lubbock.

It’s been a quarterback carousel, however the Red Raiders have discovered a recipe for achievement.

When Tyler Shough performs, the Red Raiders have had an abundance of success, going 6-1 when he starts the game. However, Shough has not been overwhelming opposing defenses, throwing for simply 632 yards and 4 touchdowns to 2 interceptions.

Donovan Smith and Behren Morton have thrown the ball considerably extra, as each have over 1,100 yards and greater than 150 passing makes an attempt. Knowing how this season has gone, don’t be stunned if Texas Tech throws a number of quarterbacks on the market.

The Red Raiders have a balanced dashing assault, with Tahj Brooks and SaRodorick Thompson each gaining over 500 yards with 13 mixed touchdowns.

And the quarterbacks will not be shy about spreading the ball round, with 10 gamers over 100 receiving yards, led by Xavier White at 557 yards. Multiple-year starters Myles Price and Trey Cleveland carry expertise to the receiving unit.

When Oklahoma has the ball

The Sooners had been all enterprise within the first quarter of final week’s sport towards Oklahoma State, placing up 28 factors whereas scoring touchdowns on 4 of 5 drives. The offense stalled mightily afterward, being shutout within the final three quarters and struggling to get previous midfield.

Dillon Gabriel handed for 259 yards and two touchdowns whereas including 30 extra yards and a landing on the bottom. But nearly all of his manufacturing got here within the first quarter-hour.

His inaccuracy reared its ugly head, finishing 20 of his 40 passes. After a profession 12 months in 2021 finishing passes earlier than his season-ending harm, he has dipped right down to a 62% completion share.

When Gabriel is on goal, he has a plethora of weapons, with junior huge receiver Marvin Mims as a deep menace, tight end Brayden Willis main the group in touchdowns and different function gamers like Jalil Farooq, Theo Wease and Drake Stoops making performs.

The Oklahoma custom of boasting an elite working again has continued in 2022, with senior Eric Gray at 1,203 dashing yards and 11 touchdowns. He has had seven 100-yard video games on the season, together with four-straight coming into Bedlam, earlier than falling in need of the century mark towards the Cowboys with 90 yards.

Prediction

Oklahoma’s dashing assault is one of the best within the convention, averaging 217.2 yards per sport. Meanwhile, Texas Tech has struggled to run the ball effectively and though the Red Raiders throw for essentially the most yards within the league, they’re additionally tied for essentially the most interceptions. The Sooners picked off Spencer Sanders 4 occasions final week and will seize just a few extra towards the Red Raiders. Gabriel will get again on observe as Oklahoma goes into its bowl sport on a winning streak.

Final: Oklahoma 30, Texas Tech 21

Find more Oklahoma coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.