When Kansas has the ball
Kansas rush offense vs. Texas Tech rush defense
Although the Jayhawks have not been quite as strong running the ball so far in 2013 as they were in 2012, they still rank fourth in the Big 12, at 166 yards per game, and take the field with the ability to hand the ball to several different players and get production. James Sims (94 yards per game) ranks second among all Big 12 backs, and Tony Pierson, though more of a pass-catcher now, remains a potential weapon out of the backfield. The Red Raiders’ defense, which ranks seventh in the conference, has been much stronger against the run (fourth) than the pass. Edge: Kansas.
Kansas pass offense vs. Texas Tech pass defense
It’s hard to say whether KU’s struggling passing game — KU ranks last in the Big 12 in pass offense — or Texas Tech’s struggling pass defense — the Red Raiders rank ninth in the Big 12 in pass D — will have the upper hand in this week’s conference opener for Kansas. Pierson and Brandon Bourbon lead the Jayhawks in receptions, and although the Jayhawks have had difficulty getting their receivers involved in the passing game, both Christian Matthews and Rodriguez Coleman stepped up down the stretch to pull out the victory against Louisiana Tech two weeks ago. Texas Tech is surrendering an average of 250 yards per game through the air and has allowed opposing passers to connect on 60 percent of their passes. Edge: Push.
When Texas Tech has the ball
Texas Tech rush offense vs. Kansas rush defense
This is a dream matchup for KU’s run defense, which ranks ninth in the Big 12 through three games and has allowed a 100-yard rusher in each of its past two games. The reason? Texas Tech comes in ranked 10th in the Big 12 in rushing offense, averaging just 112 yards per game and 3.6 yards per carry. The Jayhawks have been vulnerable to runs up the middle and quarterbacks who can tuck it and run, but Tech does not figure to do much of either. Seventy-nine percent of the Red Raiders’ total offense has come through the air. Edge: Push.
Texas Tech pass offense vs. Kansas pass defense
KU nickel back Victor Simmons said it best when asked which Texas Tech quarterback KU’s defense had been preparing for this week — true freshman Baker Mayfield, red-shirt freshman Davis Webb or sophomore Michael Brewer: “In my eyes, they’re the same guy just a different number.” They also all can put up numbers. Tech has juggled its quarterbacks some this season, largely because of injuries, but Mayfield has been the starter in each of the Red Raiders’ four victories, and his numbers — 99-for-150 passing for 1,120 yards and eight touchdowns — have shown why. Mayfield is the Big 12’s second-leading passer in yards per game (280), and he has no shortage of weapons to utilize, with tight end Jace Amaro (367 yards and a touchdown on 29 receptions), Eric Ward (221, 1, 20), Jakeem Grant (212, 2, 18) and Brad Marquez (269, 4, 17) getting the most action. Edge: Texas Tech.
Special teams
The Red Raiders are most dangerous on special teams in returns. Three players average more than eight yards per punt return and three more average more than 16 yards per kickoff return. Place kicker Ryan Bustin has hit nine of 10 field-goal tries this season and is perfect on 18 extra-point tries. The Jayhawks have shown tremendous improvement in this area so far, with punter Trevor Pardula (49.7-yard average) being the brightest star and place kicker Matthew Wyman (3-for-5, including a 52-yard game winner against Louisiana Tech) adding a legitimate field-goal leg to the KU lineup. Edge: Texas Tech.
Kansas rush offense vs. Texas Tech rush defense
Last week, Nevada took Texas Tech to the wire before losing and did so by running the football. The Wolfpack gained 318 yards on 46 carries — good for a 6.8 yards-per-carry average — and held the lead until 44 seconds remained in the game. With KU’s ground game representing its biggest strength and Tech ranked 111th out of 120 teams in rush defense, expect the Jayhawks to use three or four different backs to pound away inside and out against the Red Raiders.
Edge: Kansas.
Kansas pass offense vs. Texas Tech pass defense
Texas Tech is averaging 48 points per game this season and it’s clear that the Jayhawks are going to have to score some points to be in this game. Sophomore QB Jordan Webb has been solid in the passing game so far and the Jayhawks will be lifted by the return of freshman wideout JaCorey Shepherd, who, after breaking out for 100 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener, missed most of the next two games because of a groin injury. The Jayhawks continue to open up the playbook little by little and this is a very confident group.
Edge: Kansas.
Texas Tech rush offense vs. Kansas rush defense
Guess which team ranks dead last in rushing defense among the nation’s 120 FBS teams. Thanks in large part to their dreadful performance against Georgia Tech in Week 3, it’s the Jayhawks, and that doesn’t bode well for this week’s match-up. Texas Tech running back Eric Stephens enters the game ranked 16th in the nation with a 116 yards-per-game average and KU’s defensive coaches seem very concerned about Stephens’ ability to change gears at full speed. The Jayhawks have given up an average of 282 rushing yards per game and have surrendered 12 TDs on the ground.
Edge: Texas Tech.
Texas Tech pass offense vs. Kansas pass defense
KU has been only slightly better against the pass this season, ranking 102nd in the country with averages of 268 yards and two TDs per contest. With two weeks to prepare, the Jayhawks appear to be more ready to try to slow down an opposing team’s passing attack, but they’ll find things tough all afternoon as the Red Raiders bring the nation’s ninth most potent passing attack to town. Tech has thrown for more than 1,000 yards and 13 TDs in three games.
Edge: Texas Tech.
The Jayhawks rank 11th in the nation in net punting and feature one of the most dangerous return weapons in the Big 12 in junior D.J. Beshears. However, Texas Tech returner Ben McRoy ranks 17th in the nation with an average of 29 yards per kick return.
Edge: Push.