Countdown to Kickoff – Texas Tech Preview

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Player availability goes to play an enormous position within the final result of at present’s West Virginia-Texas Tech recreation at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas.
 
The Mountaineers are curious to discover out who Texas Tech (3-3, 1-2) goes to begin at quarterback – redshirt freshman Behren Morton or sophomore Donovan Smith.
 
Morton acquired the beginning nod two weeks in the past in opposition to Oklahoma State and threw 62 passes, finishing 39 for 379 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-31 loss to the Cowboys. But he was additionally hobbled by an ankle damage within the second half that severely restricted his mobility.
 
Smith began video games two by 5 instead of week-one starter Tyler Shough, who acquired injured early within the Murray State recreation and hasn’t performed since. Smith has been coping with a shoulder difficulty that in the end pressured him to the sidelines in opposition to Oklahoma State. He tried only one go and solely performed a few snaps in opposition to the Cowboys.
 
Red Raider coach Joey McGuire mentioned earlier this week that Morton and Smith will likely be prepared to go at present, and veteran Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reporter Don Williams indicated on Monday that Morton seems to have the “inside track” on beginning at present’s recreation.
 
Two week’s-price of therapeutic might additionally see another hobbled Red Raider gamers regain their well being, resembling No. 1 extensive receiver Myles Price, slowed by an ankle damage within the first quarter of the Oklahoma State loss. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound junior reveals 31 catches for 309 yards and two touchdowns up to now this season.
 
West Virginia, too, has been coping with loads of accidents. Neal Brown mentioned on his weekly Thursday evening radio present that defensive finish Sean Martin and cornerbacks Wesley McCormick and Rashad Ajayi will likely be recreation-time selections this afternoon. Martin, McCormick and Ajayi sustained accidents in the course of the Baylor recreation.
 
Brown additionally talked about that week one beginning nook Charles Woods may very well be accessible for restricted responsibility at present and that may be welcomed news to a West Virginia secondary that has skilled a rash of accidents up to now this season.
 
Woods is taken into account the Mountaineers’ finest cowl nook. 
 
CJ Donaldson, who exited the Texas recreation with a concussion and missed the Baylor recreation for precautionary causes, needs to be good to go for the Red Raiders. Brown indicated Tuesday that versatile offensive lineman Jordan White will even be on the journey and needs to be accessible for motion.
 
Andrew Wilson-Lamp, who was ejected from the Baylor recreation for a concentrating on penalty, is required to sit out the primary half of at present’s recreation after West Virginia’s attraction to raise his first half suspension was denied by the Big 12.
 
The Mountaineers (3-3, 1-2) final received in Lubbock in 2018 (42-34) and received there in 2016 and 2014.
 
Today’s recreation would be the third time Brown is dealing with the Red Raiders at a preparation drawback. Tech was coming off open weeks in its wins over West Virginia in 2019 and 2020 and can have a 5-day prep benefit heading into this afternoon’s conflict following WVU’s Thursday evening victory over Baylor on Oct. 13.
 
Here is at present’s Countdown to Kickoff:
 
10 – The Mountaineers have had TEN 300-yard passing performances underneath coach Neal Brown, together with two this yr.
 
9 – WVU’s protection has intercepted at the least one go in NINE of its final 16 video games and 25 of its final 45.
 
8 – West Virginia has had at the least EIGHT interceptions in seven straight seasons since 2015. The Mountaineers have a pair of interceptions by six video games up to now this yr.
 
7 – West Virginia has had SEVEN 500-yard whole offensive performances underneath Brown, together with thrice this season (Kansas, Towson and Baylor).
 
6 – WVU quarterbacks have accomplished at the least 20 passes in all SIX contests up to now this season.
 
5 – West Virginia has tallied at the least 30 factors in FIVE of its 10 conferences in opposition to Texas Tech for the reason that two started enjoying on a yearly foundation in 2012.
 
4 – The Mountaineers have received three of their final FOUR video games in Lubbock (2018, 2016 and 2014).
 
3 – West Virginia is the one Big 12 staff to have THREE receivers ranked within the high 10 in receptions per recreation in convention motion – Bryce Ford-Wheaton (third), Kaden Prather (fourth) and Sam James (10^th).
 
2 – WVU has the SECOND-ranked speeding protection within the Big 12 this week, allowing a mean of simply 112 yards per recreation.
 
1 – The Mountaineers rank FIRST within the Big 12 in time possession by holding onto the soccer for a mean of 32:52 per recreation. That determine ranks 13^th nationally.
 
Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. (ET) and the competition will likely be televised nationally on FS1 (Noah Eagle and Mark Helfrich).
  
Mountaineer Sports Network radio protection begins with the GoMart Mountaineer Tailgate Show at midday main into common community protection with Tony Caridi, Dwight Wallace and Jed Drenning at 2 p.m. on stations all through West Virginia, online via WVUsports.com and the favored cellular apps WVU Gameday and the Varsity Network.
 
WVU holds a slim 6-5 benefit in all-time collection play.