by Doug Kroll
12/22/06
11:53 am est
On December 29th, the Big 12 will face
off against the Big 10 in Tempe, Arizona when Texas Tech (7-5)
meets Minnesota (6-6). Each team will try to put a good finish
on mediocre seasons that failed to meet much higher expectations.
With the offenses each team has, one has to think this will be
a wild shootout.
The Red Raiders finished the season losing four of their final
seven, but they were able to reach their seventh straight bowl
appearance under Mike Leach, and 30th overall in school history.
However, after a Cotton Bowl appearance last season, many feel
this year as a step backwards.
The Texas Tech offense is not to blame as the passing game averaged
363.2 yards per game. QB Graham Harrell was able to throw 36
touchdowns and only 10 interceptions in Leach’s spread offense.
It was the defense that caused some problems for the Red Raiders,
especially after losing the Big 12 defensive player of the year
in 2005, Dwayne Slay.
A win for Texas Tech would be big because, after all, they have
a sophomore quarterback that is still learning the ropes under
Leach. One of Harrell’s favorite targets is wide receiver
Joe Filani, a team captain who led the Big 12 this season with
1,138 yards and 12 touchdown receptions.
Minnesota lost five of their first seven games, then rebounded
to win four of their last five after an awful 44-0 loss at the
hands of No. 1 Ohio State. It will be the fifth straight bowl
appearance for Minnesota, which is a school record. The Gophers
will also be trying to avoid its first losing season since the
2001 campaign.
Just like Texas Tech, the Gophers have struggled at times defensively,
especially in the passing game. The defense is giving up 253.5
yards through the air on average for the seventh-worst mark in
the nation. That’s not good news when they will be going
up against one of the best passing games in the country.
Offensively Minnesota has been solid, as senior QB Bryan Cupito
will wrap up his collegiate career after throwing 2,556 yards
this year and 19 touchdowns.
Both teams relied heavily on their offenses this season as the
Red Raiders averaged 41.9 points in their wins, but just 17.0
in their losses. The Gophers scored 40.7 in their six victories,
only 15.2 in six defeats. With those numbers, it may be easy
to figure out early on who will come out on top in this matchup.
Doug Kroll is an independent contributor to College Football
Poll.com.
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