Tech-Michigan State pairing set for Alamo Bowl
Texas Tech will play Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl. By the time kickoff rolls around, both teams should be able to appreciate the chance to still be playing in January.
Leach
Tech has gone to a bowl game 10 years in a row under coach Mike Leach, although the Red Raiders’ good health and good fortune at quarterback finally ran out this year. So Leach said Sunday he was proud that his team was able to get to 8-4 and keep the streak intact.
“I think it was fairly impressive,” he said. “We had to go through three (starting) quarterbacks, which I think is challenging. Now we just need to be excited about playing this game and take advantage of the opportunity to improve and go play a football game.”
The game will kick off at 8 p.m. Jan. 2 and be televised on ESPN (Suddenlink Cable channel 31). It will mark the Red Raiders’ third appearance at the game. On both previous trips, in 1996 and 2001, Tech lost to Iowa.
On Sunday, Leach wasn’t the only Alamo Bowl coach talking about taking advantage of opportunity.
Michigan State (6-6) ended the season in turmoil with head coach Mark Dantonio kicking two players off the team and suspending eight others in connection with an altercation Nov. 22. The two players who were dismissed already had season-ending injuries, but two of the team’s top three receivers and a starting cornerback were among the eight suspended.
“The majority of our football team is intact,” Dantonio said on the Alamo Bowl teleconference. “It’ll provide opportunities for others. Usually, when things of this nature happen, somebody is going to step to the forefront and become a difference maker, given the opportunity.”
Dantonio announced Saturday and reiterated Sunday that the suspended players will not make the bowl trip.
“I think they made a bad choice,” he said.
The Spartans recovered from a 1-3 start by beating Michigan, Illinois and Northwestern on consecutive October weekends. They then lost close games to Iowa and Minnesota, beat Western Michigan and Purdue and fell 42-14 to Penn State in the regular-season finale.
MSU linebacker Greg Jones, a 6-foot-1, 228-pound junior, was named the Big Ten Conference defensive player of the year and was on the American Football Coaches Association all-America team released Thursday. Jones has 141 tackles and nine sacks, and the Spartans have 34 sacks altogether.
Offensively, receiver Blair White has caught 64 passes for 876 yards and eight touchdowns. But the suspensions included B.J. Cunningham (48 catches, 641 yards, four TDs) and Mark Dell (26-449-1), who were listed 1-2 on the team’s depth chart at split end.
MSU quarterback Kirk Cousins has passed for 2,460 yards and 18 TDs with seven interceptions, and the Spartans also have a weapon in kicker Brett Swenson, a Groza Award semifinalist who made 18 of 20 field goals this season and 70 for his career.
Turmoil notwithstanding, Dantonio vowed his team will “come prepared” and “very excited about this opportunity.”
“We’ll represent Michigan State and the Big Ten Conference in every aspect of this bowl game, both on and off the field, and we’re very, very excited to come and play,” Dantonio said.
Elsewhere Sunday, the Sun Bowl announced on its Web site that Oklahoma and Stanford have accepted invitations to their game Dec. 31 in El Paso.
Last week, Alamo Bowl officials said they expected their choice to boil down to Tech (8-4) or Oklahoma (7-5). The Red Raiders had a better record and also beat OU 41-13 three weeks ago in Lubbock.
Rick Hill, the Alamo Bowl’s vice president for marketing, also said last week Tech was appealing based on how many Red Raiders fans bought tickets to the 2001 game in San Antonio.
The Alamo Bowl usually is played in late December. Hill said the switch to early January is probably a one-year anomaly. Alamo Bowl officials prefer to play at a game time when no other bowls are being played, on a Saturday and on a day free of NFL games. It so happened that the date fitting all the preferences this year was Jan. 2.
Tech will receive a little more than 11,000 tickets to sell out of its campus office. Those will be priced at $70 for lower-level seats and $55 for upper-level seats.
The Alamodome’s club seats are sold out, including about 2,000 that Tech fans pre-ordered through the Tech athletic ticket office. Tech fans pre-ordered more than 6,000 tickets before the bowl destination was known, according to Dave Welsh, Tech assistant athletic director for ticket operations.
Tickets went on sale on TexasTech.com Sunday night.
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Cotton would have better but Alamo ok. NU should go to Cotton and send OSU to west coast. Texas in the big one will keep it close at best. Good thing it’s Alabama and not Florida. Florida would blow them out. Down year for Big 12.
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ttrr, how can you say it’s better that alabama plays texas. florida got blown out yesterday by bama. Did you watch the game? Apprently not!
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James, calm down and take a breathe. Yes bama won yesterday. But do you remember what we did to KSU? Do you remember what KSU did to A@M? And what did A@M do to Tech? One game doesn’t make a season. I think Texas matches up better against bama than Florida. Sometimes you need to think outside the box.
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Don’t let Michigan State’s 6-6 record fool you…they’re a decent football team.
Depending on which Tech team shows up (will it be the one that killed Oklahoma, or the one that just squeaked by Baylor?), they could either beat MSU fairly easily or get blown off the field…or anything in between. I don’t know what to make of the 2009 Red Raiders.
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TTU, it goes to show us how good Harrell was.
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agreed ttrr. Goes to show that you can’t just plug “anybody” into this system. Beat sparty!
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Yeah, even with our “rebuilding” yr we could have won the Big 12 this yr if we had consistent QB play. If Potts starts I hope Coach Leach or somebody can teach this kid how to complete a pass between 10 and 20 yards. All his stats our from passes less than 10 yds each and maybe one per game over 25. But ask him to throw it between 10 and 20 and you get either an incompletion or interception!! Let’s get to work!! Go get em Red Raiders!!
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Alamo Bowl, good news, good place to watch a game, let’s fill it up w/the Raider Nation and show those M-State boys there not welcome in the Lone Star State! Bring your 6-6 record to S.A. spend your money, get your butt whipped head back to the frozen land!
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9-4 would be a great way to start 2010!
Stay focused, Tech…
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This is a good bowl game for Michigan St. I think they’ll win this one rather easaily. As long as Kirk continues to through the ball good and Swenson keeps his leg in shape then we should end the season on a good note and not the way it was looking with the brawl. Go green…..Go white!
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Anthony Anthony………..
You just walked across the wrong cattle guard………………..try a different message board.
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As a Raider fan, I am disappointed that it is Alabama vs. Texas, TU will get stomped. TCU would have made a better opponet.
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Right on Jim, right on
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A 6-6 Michigan State team on Jan 2. No thanks, I’ll watch it on the TV. Sun Bowl vs. Stanford would have been more entertaining.
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Anyone seen Michigan states schedule? Awful! They didn’t beat one good team and lost to some really medicore teams. I kinda feel like tech’s season is over. I’m not looking forward to this at all. Even the bad Tech team can sqeak this one out :).
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I hope our players remember next year in College Station just exactly what that A&M game did to us this year on the national scene.
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You’re right redbird, i think i did walk across the wrong cattle guard and somehow i’ve seam to walk into a big pile of B.S! I just hope not all the T.T. fans are like Michale Crabtree and whine about not getting what they want even though they don’t deserve more than what was offered them! This should be a good game, i’m not going to lie. I just couldn’t sit back and watch the whole board be fill with Texas tech Red Whiners saying how they were going to win easily. All that state hast to do is shut down batch and the rush and force potts to though for short passes to complete first downs, pick them off for 6 and kick the extra point and thats the game! My prediction of the score will be State 24 texas tech 10
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Anthony………….Really
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Anthony haha boy you came to the wrong website. it’s not gonna even be pretty when the michigan state corners our running around saying where did the ball go. Wreck em Tech!
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Dont’ care about any other game. Section 301 row 18 seat 2. I will be there.
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Defense and Baron Batch win this. Potts will do enough to help Tech win
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Not if Greg Jones has anything to say about it!
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It is time to stop bashing Potts and support our QB. He is not Graham Harrell, but I think it is unreasonable to think he could step in & fill those shoes after not playing for 3 years. His play has been up & down but comparably to others in the big 12 …very good.
Compare to another Big 12 QB
Att. yards int
Potts 428 3168 12
Big 12 QB 468 3588 12
who is that other Big 12 QB? Heisman trophy candidate Colt McCoy
Potts will be fine if we all get behind him!
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anthony i see absolutely no logic in your first statement even it the spartans win it would be anything but easy…perhaps you should watch some game tape of the tech ou game or our 10 point loss to the national title contenders or the 21 point win over the north champions i think you should pick a different website to talk on as well…….
and who is greg jones?
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Fellas,
Don’t underestimate MSU. They’ didn’t set the world afire, but played a few competitive games. They appear to be decently balanced offensively and average defensively.
Besides, bowl games are risky because of the long delay between the last regular season game and the bowl game. Teams often struggle offensively with tempo and timing. This is why defense wins so many of them.
Guns Up!!
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Greg jones #53 on the Michigan State Spartens… He is only the third leading tackler in the N.C.A.A. I did see your 10 point loss to Texas but on the other hand I saw Texas a&m run all over you by 22 points.
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Anthony, you need to get out more often. You had to have watched TTU play Nebraska, Houston, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, granted we lost 2 of those games but we were respectable against Ranked Teams. We beat Nebraska at their house decisively, OU at our house badly. I am willing to bet your QB isn’t 1/2 the athelete Robert Johnson (TAMU) is, and we handled the best player in college football(defense or offense) in N. SUH (NEB), so I think you need to hold it down a little with all the bashing. It will be a good game and look forward to seeing you in San Antonio, by the way IT is in TEXAS. Bring on the green and white but be prepared to a little black and blue home with you. P.S. spell ck comes with the machine, Spartan.
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Anthony, you should have your mom spell check for you.
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Tech fans that are going to the Alamo Bowl, what color are we going to wear to support our Red Raiders… red or black???
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“…but on the other hand I saw Texas a&m run all over you by 22 points. “
Funny how that game wasn’t on TV!
Anyway the Golden Gopher rematch would have been a more entertaining game. They beat the Green and White too. Oh well….
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Hey guys I’m just saying, no I didnt watch the T.T vs Texas A&M game on tv and had it been televised I still probably still wouldn’t have. Why? That game should of been a blow out! A&M was coming off a 48 point beating by Kansas state and Texas Tech was ranked 21 in the ap polls T.T. was favored by 22 points. I saw the higlights on espn and sports center, sorry! Oh yeah, sorry about the spelling errors, but I’m glad thats the best thing you can come back with! The other good thing about this game is that it is played in San Antonio at least its a beautiful city i’ve been there for boot camp back in 02 and I really enjoyed the river walk and all, but good luck T.T. fans and may the best team win!
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Michigan State will be playing shorthanded in the Alamo Bowl after two players were kicked off the team and a number of others were suspended for being in a fight with a fraternity. MSU will be without its top two receivers, among others.
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Which Michigan team are you Anthony? Central or UM? Go back and play in your own sandbox like a good little boy(?). Oh, BTW, how’s unemployment up there?
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Did u guys see the qb for bama? That guys Jr and plays awsome and had committed to tech. What I’m saying is that Potts to to b ready and get better fast. We want tech at a higher level. Not just making to a bowl game. We need to look real good in SA so we can keep getting quality recruits.
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I JUST LOVE OUR RED RAIDERS FAN..WE TELL IT LIKE IT IS, BRING THE COMMENTS OF OUTSIDERS TO LIFE..FOR THE MOST PART THEIR MOUTHS SPECK OF THINGS THEY HAVE NO IDEA OF..ANTHONY..YOU HAVE NO CHANCE IN THIS PART OF TEXAS…
OUR SAYING IN RED RAIDERVILLE IS “GUN’S UP”, AND RIGHT NOW MY FRIEND,,,YOU HAVE SEVERAL OF THEM POINTED STRAIGHT AT YOU…. DID YOU EVEN ATTEND MICHIGAN? IF NOT, THEN YOUR JUST A FAN…YOU MENTIONED GREG JONES..HELLO NEVER HEARD OF THE GUY. BUT YOU HAVE HEARD OF THE POWER HOUSE OF OUR PLAYERS…
GUN’S UP AND SAN ANTONIO HERE WE COME!!!!
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Anthony, put your money where your mouth is. I will take that action anytime. This season is the year that TEXAS TECH was supposed to be rebuilding and turns out they are 8-4. I wonder what they will look like on a strong year. I now think that since they are rebuilding and still having a strong team like they do then all the elements are in place to be a perennial contender. Sorry to rain on your parade, but, Michigan State might have tradition, but, TEXAS TECH has a team. I think its the cold weather up there that is making you delirious, stop making snow angels and go back inside. Post back on this forum if you accept my challenge.
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Anthony…..aren’t you a big boy hinding behind your screen. I loved how you spelled Micheal Crabtree……very funny. You are a genious. If anyone tells you any different, don’t listen to them. Just keep believing you are special.
TTU 42
MSU 23
This will be the highest line Vegas will have to offer in any bowl game. If you are a betting man, don’t touch this one with a ten foot pole. Tech wins, but I doubt they cover a 20-21 line. Alamo Bowl needs to reconsider their alignments. Getting a 6-6 team handed to them is not going to help the status of this bowl. Maybe they would be better served getting a Mountain West Team. The Big 10 is just not that good anymore. They continue to suffer from the South Migration of student athletes. The fact the Big 10 has two teams in the BCS is probably the biggest joke the BCS has come up with to date……..which is saying a lot.
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I appreciate Anthony coming in and spicing up the message board. Glad he’s got confidence in his team.
I certainly don’t want us to underestimate ANY opponent. Tech hasn’t had an easy time with Big-10 teams in the past.
I didn’t care for the “Red Whiners” slur, but then again our fans were dad gum (that’s Texan for “quite”) rude to him, too.
I liked his last statement: “May the best team win.”
If they do, they’ll be wearing scarlet and black.
Guns up!
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esteban said:
Kudos to the Horns on putting a knife in the hopes of of all cornshukers fans and winning the Big 12 title game! Only one to go for Coach Mack and the Horns! McCoy will win the Heisman! Texas slaps around the Alabama red laundry detergent team! HOOK ‘EM HORNS!
You mean like the horns to it to Nebraska? Your funny!
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Sorry “Took” it to Nebraska.
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Who let SpartTard out of kindergarten? Boy needs to learn how to spell…or maybe that’s as good as it gets in Michigan public schools!
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Tech and Mich State. 9-4 would be really good for this season. As for the BCS farce TCU and Boise State together? TCU is ranked in the top 10 in Of/Def. Why not put them with Florida? The Horns are going to get so spanked. Go Crimson Tide!
And, Sheff, get really healed up so we can say we’ve seen the last of Pottsy ;-)
Tech Alum
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Wow! Anthony ur a idiot (not even your real pic). Will you even be at the game? And i’m not talking about in spirit. I know the whole state of Michigan has gone down the crap hole with the whole recession in all. Next to follow are the Green & White, down the crap hole you shall go. Also TRY to show your colors at the river walk, see if you dont get thrown in.
GUNZ UP
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james said:
ttrr, how can you say it’s better that alabama plays texas. florida got blown out yesterday by bama. Did you watch the game? Apprently not!
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It is a well known fact that certain teams match up against certain teams better then others. It is also a well known fact that certain teams do not always play to their full potential. I would expect any Tech fan to know that. There may be some truth to what the guy said, but we will never know will we. Words for thought.
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esteban said:
Kudos to the Horns on putting a knife in the hopes of of all cornshukers fans and winning the Big 12 title game! Only one to go for Coach Mack and the Horns! McCoy will win the Heisman! Texas slaps around the Alabama red laundry detergent team! HOOK ‘EM HORNS!
There is a better chance of the sun not coming up tomorrow then there is of Colt McCoy winning the Heisman. The Bama Back has it locked up. You can thank Nebraska for that Esteban. Colt has been less then perfect all year. The best QB in the Big12 went down when he played TU. Bama (Red laundry detergent as you put it) is going to wash the burnt orange right out of TU’s uniforms.
There, it has been said. So it shall be.
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Anthony said:
You’re right redbird, i think i did walk across the wrong cattle guard and somehow i’ve seam to walk into a big pile of B.S! I just hope not all the T.T. fans are like Michale Crabtree and whine about not getting what they want even though they don’t deserve more than what was offered them! This should be a good game, i’m not going to lie. I just couldn’t sit back and watch the whole board be fill with Texas tech Red Whiners saying how they were going to win easily. All that state hast to do is shut down batch and the rush and force potts to though for short passes to complete first downs, pick them off for 6 and kick the extra point and thats the game! My prediction of the score will be State 24 texas tech 10
First of all, You obviously have not been watching Crabtree at the next level (Plays on Sundays & Mondays). He has already greatly exceeded all expectations as to his talent. Just ask his Mike (Singletary that is).
Anthony, you starkly resemble some Cal fans who came around poping off about a Tech team which they knew nothing about. The next thing the Cal fans knew they were listening to chants of OVERRATED. Tech will beat MSU, and will beat them easily with Potts, Sheff, or who ever they throw at you. Your passing defense is rated 103rd out of 110 teams. Your in trouble son. State will not score 24 points, and Tech will score at least 4 times what you predict. Count on it. Why dont you come to the game and enjoy some of our Texas Hospitality. Your school colors will be black and blue when we are through with you. Bring it on Sparticus.
Wreckem Texas Tech
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The references to “unemployment” in Michigan, or anywhere else in OUR NATION, are not funny and NOT NECESSARY! We aren’t talking Economic Policy here. Taylor Potts possesses true talent and lots of durability. BUT……whomever is the starting QB is Mike Leach’s decision, and his alone. On the Offensive front, the Red Raiders will be just fine, thanks! On the D-Side………..equally fine! I’m thankful that Mike Leach’s “crew” ended up at 8-4, and look forward to 2010-2011. The Schedule moves back in Tech’s overall favor. Or should. Also, I’m glad to see the Red Raiders playing an opponent for the very first time. Gettin’ the word out across the country as to WHO and WHAT the Red Raiders ARE! Any hoot……………GO TECH! nmredraider1 in Albuquerque
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We (Tech fans) should know by now not to take any game for granted. I mean, this is a bowl game after all. I guarantee you Mich State will come out fired up. Look how close the Baylor game was. We were 3 touchdown favorites. The Alamo Bowl has had some very close games over the years, with underdogs winning some of them. From what I understand, Mich State has a very good passing offense. Having said that, I hope the Tech defense dominates this game!
Go Raiders!
Wreck ‘em Tech!
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So the term “Everythings bigger in Texas” refers to egos huh? Sorry if I hurt anybodies feelings on here. I was just stating simple facts about the game, nothing against the people of Texas. You guys are so full of empty threats; it kills me! lol And it is my real pic, how the hell woikld you know that? Are you some sort of staulker? It was taken at a party that I was at, at state! No I dont go there, I go to GVSU, its a division II school but it happens to be the best football school in it. Don’t forget I did go to boot camp there in San Antonio, and I have been to the river walk, and all I saw there were lankey guys in cowboy hats and boots! Yee haw! Now that i’ve seen how the fans of TT are, I hope they crush you and ruin your hopes for next year and put you in your place and show you who you really are as an 8-4 team…. Just a team that can’t win when they are supose to!
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Anthony said:
Greg jones #53 on the Michigan State Spartens… He is only the third leading tackler in the N.C.A.A. I did see your 10 point loss to Texas but on the other hand I saw Texas a&m run all over you by 22 points.
Anthony,
Sorry, never heard of Greg Jones. Does he live across the street from Jim Johnson?
If he is as good as you think he is MSU will need 11 of him on defense at all times to stop Tech’s Offense. Then your going to have to deal with Tech’s D. I looked up a few stats which tend to refute your allegations.
Total Defense Rankings (Out of 120 Div 1 schools)
Texas Tech – 37 ***************** MSU – 61
———————————————————————————————–
Rushing Defense
MSU – 24 ******************* Texas Tech – 35
———————————————————————————————–
Passing Defense
Texas Tech – 70 ******************** MSU – 103
=======================================================
Total Offense Rankings (Out of 120 Div 1 schools)
Texas Tech – 9 ********************** MSU – 44
————————————————————————————————
Rushing Offense
MSU – 80 ******************** Texas Tech – 114
————————————————————————————————
Passing Offense
Texas Tech – 2 ********************** MSU – 27
=======================================================
Special Teams
MSU – 53 *********************** Texas Tech – 70
Tech’s # 2 ranked passing attack (and it is truly offensive) has a clear advantage over MSU’s 103 ranked passing defense. This one statistic alone spells out the demise of MSU in this bowl game. Tech’s 114th ranked rushing attack has a clear disadvantage to MSU’s 24th ranked rushing defense, however, Tech never relies on their running game to win a game. The passing game tends to loosen up the running game as the running game loosens up the passing game. MSU’s does not have the defense to run with Tech’s offense.
MSU’s 80th ranked rushing attack should be no match for Tech’s 35th ranked rushing defense. This opinion is supported by the job Tech’s Defense did on the powerful OU running game. MSU’s 27th ranked passing offense has an advantage on Tech’s 69th ranked passing defense. Tech’s defense has stepped up their pass attack which I believe will be the demise of MSU’s offense.
MSU’s 53rd ranked special teams has a slight advantage over Tech’s 70th ranked special teams.
CONCLUSIONS
Tech will roll in this Bowl. Tech’s offense is far superior to MSU’s offense. Tech has a decided advantage on defense as well (Look at the stats). MSU’s only hope in this Bowl is to beat Tech with their special teams, Aint happening, or for Tech to beat themselves (which happened against A&M Anthony).
Nuff said
Wreckem Texas Tech
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JBOYD,
If you hear anything about color let me know. I am about to check the website store to see what is offered.
Go TECH!
I am also thinking McCoy has no chance at the Heisman. I am rooting for Bama all the way. I do have to tip my hat to UT for having a good season. I am not too sure Shipley will make it in the NFL like Welker has. Yes, Welker flopped as a special teams returner in Miami, but he has kicked some major butt as a receiver in New England.
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JBoyd said:
Tech fans that are going to the Alamo Bowl, what color are we going to wear to support our Red Raiders… red or black???
J Boyd,
The answer is yep. Both im sure. I will be there, how about you. Heck, Id buy Anthony a beer (If he’s of age) to ease his sorrows after the game.
Wreckem Texas Tech
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GUNS UP said:
JBOYD,
If you hear anything about color let me know. I am about to check the website store to see what is offered.
Go TECH!
I am also thinking McCoy has no chance at the Heisman. I am rooting for Bama all the way. I do have to tip my hat to UT for having a good season. I am not too sure Shipley will make it in the NFL like Welker has. Yes, Welker flopped as a special teams returner in Miami, but he has kicked some major butt as a receiver in New England.
Welker didnt flop too much, He’s returning kicks for the Pats and is rated the top slot receiver in the NFL. That little shrimp can play ball. Tech is quickly becoming a receiver factory.
Wreckem Texas Tech
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8-4 record. Alamo Bowl. 6-6 MSU. 5th best team in Texas. It;s been a “Spike” kind of year.
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what happened to the good ol’ days where osu and uofm ran sheet…
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