Baylor and Texas Tech are 3-0, and despite their combined perfect records exactly no one is quite sure how legit the Bears and Red Raiders are. This is the weekend we get an idea of where these two teams are, and where they are going.
No. 25 Baylor plays at No. 9 West Virginia at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday. West Virginia is favored by 12.5 points.
Texas Tech plays at Iowa State at 6 p.m. on Saturday. The Red Raiders are favored by 2.5 points.
All four teams are 3-0.
Both games feel pivotal to the respective seasons for both Baylor and Tech. Win, and a winning season should be expected and a bowl invitation.
The last time Texas Tech played Iowa State the game was in Lubbock, one week after the Red Raiders pulled off one of the great upsets of the 2011 season when they won in Norman against Oklahoma.
They followed that win against OU with a 41-7 home loss against the Cyclones that started a season-ending, five-game losing streak.
The Red Raiders are 3-0 having gotten fat against Northwestern State, Texas State and New Mexico. A 4-0 start would really help soften the incoming punch that is coming with the following five games, all against ranked teams.
No one doubts whether Texas Tech is improved from last season, but the degree. Are they good enough to go on the road and defeat an underrated Iowa State team? The defense has allowed a total of 30 points in three games, but can they stop the "real" teams?
Similar concerns exist for Baylor, which is 3-0 despite no longer having Robert Griffin III to play QB. The Bears are scoring - 51 points per game - but can they score against the "real" teams?
A win, or even a close game, for either will validate their respective 3-0 records.
A loss, especially a blowout, will indicate more losses are coming.
@MacEngelProf
tengel@star-telegram.com
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...tommy tubberville is the worst. he is as bad as nick saban
Posted by: The Devil | 09/26/2012 at 07:19 PM
Im a Tech fan and I love Mike Leach. I don't dislike Tubberville, but I don't think he is the greatest coach in the world either. We need unity and we need wins. That takes leadership. Our students, alum, and I think even our players are not together. If we don't get some wins, it's time for a change. I hope we win and I hope we turn this thing around. We need it.
Posted by: Tech Fan | 09/27/2012 at 10:14 AM
You could try not being divisive. That might help unity.
Posted by: Actual Tech Fan | 09/27/2012 at 10:24 AM
Mac. please put aside your role as SID for the frogs. Pat Jones said that BU has the biggest win against non-conference foes this year in it's win over ULM. Bu's scored much more against a "real" team on the road than the Hogs and Auburn could at home.
Posted by: steve | 09/28/2012 at 09:31 AM