Game Preview:Iowa State at No. 19 Texas Tech

October 29, 2011

Iowa State (3-4, 0-4) at No. 19 Texas Tech (5-2, 2-2)

Kickoff at 6 p.m. at Jones AT&T Stadium

Television: FSN

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Texas Tech coming off its victory of the season looks to become bowl eligible Saturday night for the 19th consecutive season as they host a reeling Iowa State Cyclone team that has lost 4 games in a row.

What to watch for this this week:

Texas Tech Beating Themselves

The Red Raiders beat then No. 3 Oklahoma 41-38 in Norman last Saturday and have been the talk of the College Football world since. Now comes the bigger test for Texas Tech: Can they ignore the praises they have received since early Saturday and beat a reeling Cyclone team that has lost 4 in a row? History doesn't seem to indicate what will happen one or another looking at the past 5 seasons for Tech as they beat No. 9 Oklahoma State 56-20 in 2008 after upsetting Texas the previous week 39-33. 2009 showed an unranked Texas A&M squad march into Lubbock pound No. 21 Texas Tech 52-30 after Tech beat No. 15 Nebraska 31-10 the previous week. The positive sign from this week is the excitement from Texas Tech fans and the game Saturday in Lubbock looks to be a near sellout with 600 tickets remaining at the time of publication of this preview on Thursday.

Jared Barnett vs. the Texas Tech Defensive Front Seven

Iowa State freshman quarterback Jared Barnett will make his first start of his young career against Texas Tech after relieving previous starter Steele Jantz last week in their 33-17 loss to Texas A&M in Ames. Barnett went 16 of 36 passing with 180 yards and an interception. The real test for Texas Tech will be when Barnett pulls the down running as he ran for 66 yards on 13 carries. The Red Raiders have struggled with mobile quarterbacks as Nevada's two quarterback tandem combined for 156 yards and 2 touchdowns on just 17 carries and Collin Klein of Kansas State ran 23 times for 130 yards and 3 touchdowns. Texas Tech will need to forget that Barnett is making his first start as a freshman and need to wrap and tackle. If Barnett get past the front seven then look for a shootout.

Seth Doege vs. the Iowa State Secondary

The Cyclone defense is giving up 253 yards a game through the air in Big 12 Conference play and their 4 opponents aren't passing teams like Texas Tech. Seth Doege has led Texas Tech to 3rd nationally in passing offense at 389 yards a game including his 441 yard effort in upsetting Oklahoma last week. Look for Doege and company to continue to pile up huge numbers this week, as expected.

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Prediction:

Texas Tech 42
Iowa State 24

Saturday at 3 p.m. catch Countdown to Kickoff with Steve Dale to preview the Tech-ISU game and other Big 12 Conference match ups and following the game call in and sound off with Fan Feedback with Robert Snyder around 9:15pm on 1340 The Fan or streaming online at 1340thefan.com.