TEXAS TECH SEASON PREDICTIONS

Good afternoon West Texans and all you good, fine, friendly folks out there who wish you were . . .

TEXAS TECH SEASON PREDICTION TIME
(NOTE: THIS PREDICTION MAY BE REVISED IN THE NEAR FUTURE)

I guess it is time to finally go on the record about what I’ll think will happen this year for the Red Raiders. The only problem about that, is that I really don’t know. I think they’re good. A lot of other people think they’re good too judging from the preseason rankings. Most Texas Tech fans are hoping and praying they’re really good too, hoping to break through that double-digit win barrier for the program. But, do we really know?

I know that I’m not one to usually pick a team to do something that they haven’t done before. I didn’t sign-off on either Kansas or Missouri last year until they’d proven they could go the full year without a major screw-up. I didn’t even buy into Kansas going into their bowl game. Shows you what I know.

As for Tech, the Big 12 South is certainly as winnable as it has ever been during the Mike Leach tenure. Okalahoma is talented but not the type of team that looks unbeatable. Texas has Texas talent, but it is young and inexperienced. The Red Raiders bring enough players back on both sides of the ball that if their jersey read “Texas” or “Oklahoma” the writers and the coaches would have made them the number one pick in the South this year.

So, what does it translate to at the end of the year?

I’m picking Texas Tech to go 10-2 in the regular season, finishing second in the Big 12 South to Oklahoma. I hope I’m wrong. In fact, I’ll be rooting hard against my pick. That said, I’ve got to stay true and say that until the Red Raiders can prove they can avoid that ugly loss to a team of lesser talent as well as combining wins in the same year at Oklahoma and at home against Texas, I’ve got to go with the two-loss scenario.

Beginning with the stunning, deflating loss at OSU in 2005, Tech has found a way to work in a loss each of the last several seasons to teams of far-lesser ability. Sometimes at home, sometimes on the road. Prove me wrong, Tech. Prove to me that you can avoid that. I know many Tech fans are chalking up all wins until the trip to A&M but I’m telling ya that trips to Manhattan and Lawrence aren’t going to be cakewalks. People are chalking up an easy win over Mike Sherman and his Aggies as well. Remind me again all those easy wins Tech has had in College Station?

I think it says a lot that I feel a little bad about picking Tech second with a 10-win season. That says all you need to know about the job Leach and Crew have done to raise expectations and opinions of the program. That is indeed a good thing.

So, there it is, 10-2 with a berth in the Cotton Bowl for the Red Raiders. Now, go out and prove me wrong.

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HYATT

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