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The Texas Tech vs. Texas line for Week 10 of the 2011 College Football regular season had the Longhorns at -14 at Sportsbook.com.
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Texas -14 & 61.5
Opening Line & Total: UT -13 & 60
Slumping Texas Tech tries to get back on the winning track when it visits Texas on Saturday afternoon.
After last week’s meltdown (41-7 home loss to Iowa State), expect a Texas Tech team that more resembles the Red Raiders squad that won in Norman two weeks ago. The Longhorns gave up 585 passing yards to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, the only two top-50 passing offenses they have faced all season, and TTU has averaged 405 passing YPG in its past four trips to Austin. Texas 6-14 ATS in its past 20 home games, and although it is coming off 441 rushing yards against lowly Kansas, Tech is 35-12 ATS (75%) against great rushing teams (200+ rush YPG) since 1992.
Texas Tech hasn’t won in Austin since 1997, as the Longhorns have 48.0 PPG during six straight home victories against the Red Raiders. TTU was averaging 43.4 PPG and 539 total YPG before being held to seven points and 290 total yards to ISU. QB Seth Doege (441 yards, 4 TD vs. Oklahoma two weeks ago) threw for 171 yards and 2 INT versus the Cyclones. Despite the home setback last week, the Red Raiders have had no trouble scoring points on the road. In three games outside of Lubbock, they have scored 145 points (48.3 PPG) and Doege has thrown for 1,208 yards, 12 TD and just 1 INT. The loss of RB Eric Stephens (knee) has really slowed down the ground game. In three games without Stephens, TTU has rushed for just 338 yards on 3.3 YPC. Tech’s defensive numbers continue to be ugly, ranking 105th in sacks (1.3 per game), 102nd in total defense (436 YPG) and 93rd in scoring defense (32.0 PPG).
Texas ran for 441 yards and 5 TD on 72 carries (6.1 YPC) in a 43-0 win over Kansas last week, and will try to do the same thing to a Red Raiders rush defense allowing 226 YPG (seventh-most in FBS). Freshman Malcolm Brown continues to emerge as the team’s featured back with 254 yards and 4 TD on 47 carries over the past two weeks. The heavy rush attack will keep the pressure off freshman QB David Ash, who played pretty well against the Jayhawks, completing 14-of-18 passes for 145 yards, 0 TD and 1 INT. Although the Horns pass defense has been mostly strong (192 YPG, 21st in nation), they have to get better pressure on the QB if they are to slow down TTU’s air attack. Texas ranks 90th in the country in sacks (1.6 per game) and has created just four turnovers in the past three games.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
