Two of the best offenses in college football will be at Owen Field Saturday. Two Heisman Trophy caliber quarterbacks. Great receivers. Great offensive lines. All the ingredients are there for a great night of college football.
The only problem is the one ingredient being left out of the equation is the one that will probably decide the outcome of Saturday night’s showdown between Texas Tech and Oklahoma: defense.
Typically, it’s been the Sooners who have done the job. But there’s a serious belief this may finally be the game the Red Raiders close the defensive gap.
“They’re doing an excellent job. They played us well a year ago. And for the most part we played them well. Probably better than anyone else has,” OU coach Bob Stoops said. “Regardless, all that matters is what you do this week.”
Trying to predict what will happen when No. 2 Texas Tech (10-0, 6-0 Big 12) faces No. 5 OU (9-1, 5-1) at 7 Saturday is tough.
Most believe an offensive spectacle will take off when the sun goes down. Both the Sooners and Red Raiders have been prodigious at scoring points this season. Both rank in the top five nationally in scoring offense, passing offense and total offense.
Then again, that’s been the case just about every time the teams have met over the last eight years. OU’s been among the nation’s best more often than not since Mike Leach installed the spread offense here in 1999.
When Leach left Norman to take over the Red Raiders’ in 2000, they became prodigious points producers as well. Defense took a while to catch up. In his first seven seasons at Texas Tech, Leach’s teams consistently ranked at the bottom of the Big 12 in most defensive categories.
But something’s changed.
Texas Tech enters Saturday’s game as the conference’s third best defense in yards allowed (351.4) and second in points allowed (22.2). The Sooners are fourth at 23.6.
That could be a bad omen. The one thing OU’s always been able to count on when against the Red Raiders was a defensive edge. There might be a small one Saturday. But it’s not what it has been.
“They are more experienced, and they were able to stop us some last year, too,” OU wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias said. “I think the thing that is different about them is that they are more physical. They react to the ball faster and come at you more. We have to bring the game to them.”
It used to be OU talked about time of possession and controlling the ball when Texas Tech came to town. OU always knew it could score points. It was also concerned with keeping the Red Raider offense on the sideline.
That hasn’t been heard much over the last 10 days. OU will take points any way it can get them. Odds are the Sooners will need plenty.
The trends of the past may no longer apply.
“As long as we have a great week of preparation, enforce the game plan, come out and do what we need to do, I will be comfortable with our defense,” OU safety Nic Harris said.
Most are bracing for a shootout Saturday night. There’s enough ammo for it, but whichever team can dodge the most bullets should walk out the winner.
John Shinn
366-3536
jshinn@normantranscript.com
OU Sports
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Defense the key
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