Texas Tech vs. Utah Football Preview: Key Stats & Insights

SportsGrid

Watch Texas Tech vs. Utah Football Preview: Key Stats & Insights - SportsGrid on Dailymotion

Transcript

00:00We start right here in Utah, Texas Tech versus Utah, setting the stage for this one.

00:04Four and a half, Joe, was the favorite here for Utah at the opening number.

00:07That's dropped now down to three and a half across the board.

00:09The total opened up at 60 and a half, Joe.

00:11Now we see 57 and a half points.

00:14So I'm going to start here with this question mark.

00:16Both of these teams, not a lot of great competition to start the season.

00:19How do we see this play out?

00:20We'll start with the side itself, Joe.

00:22Three and a half point favorite, Utah.

00:23Yeah, typically Texas Tech struggles as a road team over the past four years.

00:27They're just 12 and 14 straight up on the road or on a neutral field site.

00:31But Joey McGuire, this team overall, Donnie, have put a lot into NIL.

00:36They put a lot into the transfer portal.

00:38They revamped their defensive secondary.

00:40And I still believe they have the better passing attack heading into this matchup.

00:45Baron Morton completing 72% of his passes, 11 touchdowns, one interception.

00:50We know Devin Dampierre, the transfer from New Mexico, has stepped up.

00:54Utah, very physical rushing attack.

00:57They pounded for 290 on the ground.

00:59But the balance, to me, happens to be Texas Tech, 387 through the air, 215 on the ground.

01:05And their secondary completely changed.

01:08I think they're a little bit more complete, have a little bit more speed.

01:12I think it could be a track meet, but I'm taking the points with Tech.

01:15Now let me ask you about this game too, Joe.

01:16Because when I look at this and try to break it down,

01:18like let's just say Michigan is going to have a tough game at Nebraska today.

01:21But Michigan's already been on the road to OU.

01:23So you can say to yourself, okay, I see them in a battle-tested environment.

01:25They shouldn't have those big, bright lights environment here.

01:28When I look at this game, and I'm not saying the game is going to be too big for either one of these teams.

01:31That's not what I'm saying.

01:32But the first three games, underwhelming for each one of these teams.

01:35Now you're in this step-up where it's like, hey, the lights are bright.

01:38Top 20 team.

01:39Battle it on.

01:40Who actually gets the favorite side for like, who should be more prepared?

01:43Is it just the home team, Joe?

01:45Well, you would think, I mean, for years under Kyle Whittingham, Utah's been a dominant home team.

01:50You know, you could go back.

01:51Prior to last year, Donnie, they were like 18-1 over the previous three seasons at home.

01:56Very rarely would they lose in Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake.

02:00But last year they had four home losses.

02:02So you look at overall, they're 20-5 over the past four or five seasons.

02:06But, again, it still comes down to the offense and defensive identities.

02:10Typically, Utah struggles with speed teams that could stretch them and then throw over the top.

02:16That's the way Barron Morton and this offense are equipped.

02:19And when you look at the defense for Texas Tech, Donnie, last year one of the worst past secondaries in all of college football.

02:25They allowed 308 passing yards per game.

02:28They cut it down to 189 this year, holding opposing quarterbacks to 51% completion percentage.

02:35To me, that's the difference.

02:36If this game goes back and forth, I'd rather have Barron Morton and the Texas Tech offense than Utah in Salt Lake.

02:44So give me the points with Tech.

02:46I think they win it outright.

02:47Weather conditions today, Joe, 66 degrees, a kickoff 70-73 by the time the game is over.

02:52Light winds, no precipitation in the forecast, which we absolutely love.

02:55Now talk to me about this.

02:56Both of these teams are known for offense, Joe.

02:5860-1 was an opening number at the FanDuel Sportsbook.

03:01They dropped that to 57-1.

03:03Why are we seeing a buyback in that market?

03:04Well, I just think when you look at Utah, they want to control the clock, even though they can put up points.

03:09They're averaging well over 40 points per game.

03:12But, again, the mentality is going to be we want to control the clock, keep Morton on the sidelines, and limit possessions, right?

03:18We want to dictate the tempo.

03:20They're averaging, to what I said, 290 on the ground, 227 through the air.

03:24Have one of the best third-down offenses, Donnie, in all of college football.

03:2871% conversion rate right behind Arkansas.

03:31That's two out of 134 teams.

03:34So, that's why I think you're starting to see that.

03:36Plus, we think Utah, we think physicality.

03:39They're only giving up 90 rushing yards per game, 134 in the back end.

03:43They're opportunistic as well.

03:45Force four interceptions.

03:46So, I just think the perception is if Utah is going to win this game, lower scoring will lay it and will get under the 60 and a half.

03:54If you're back in tech, you want to push tempo and get into a track meet.

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended