Texas Tech Red Raiders 2022 College Football Preview
Created, July 24 2022
2021 Recap
Record – 7-6
ATS – 7-6
The Red Raiders got off to a decent start (5-2) and looked to be gaining momentum before they suffered a tough loss to Kansas St (L 25-24). They rebounded nicely later in the year by taking down Iowa St (W 41-38) but proved that they still have a lot of work to do by allowing 122 points (!) in two games vs Texas and Oklahoma. Texas Tech gets full marks for their BEATDOWN of Mississippi St in the Liberty Bowl (W 34-7) and roll into 2022 with some momentum, as well as a new head coach in Joey McGuire. Let’s go!
Texas Tech Red Raiders 2022 Outlook
OFFENSE
Three QBs got significant work in for the Red Raiders LY and two of those men are back in mix. Former Oregon Duck Tyler Shough was decent in limited action in his first season with the Red Raiders and is the likely starter heading into 2022. Donovan Smith is also an option as is highly-recruited specimen Behren Morton. Texas Tech will be much more potent in the THROW GAME with former Western Kentucky OC (!) Zach Kittley at the controls but they’ll be working without three of the four top targets from LY. There’s some talent at WR and note that they bagged a TE with yuuuge potential in former Texas A&M Aggie Baylor Cupp. The OL should be just fine after landing a boatload of transfers and the Red Raiders boast over 120 career starts up front. Oh, and the 1-2 combo at RB is rock solid (Brooks, Thompson) and they combined for 17 rushing TDs in 2021. These guys will be good on offense and LOOK OUT if a legit gamebreaker (or two) emerges at WR.
DEFENSE
The Red Raiders weren’t that bad vs the run LY (137 YPG, #40 FBS) but were a HOT MESS when it came to defending the pass (#108 pass efficiency D, 29-11 TD to INT, 66%). They also weren’t exactly MASTERS OF PENETRATION (20 sacks, #7 Big 12) and it’s been a long time since these guys had a legit pass rush. Texas Tech loses their top-three tacklers and don’t have much depth to speak of, but there are reasons for optimism. DE Tyree Wilson can get heat on the QB (7 sacks, 13.5 TFL LY), the secondary features two really good players in safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (10 PBU, 3 INT LY) and CB Rayshad Williams (10 PBU), and their new DC Tim DeRuyter was an excellent veteran hire. It’ll be a bumpy ride but not a complete disaster.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Texas Tech moves on without ace PK Jonathan Garibay (15/16 FG LY) but are thrilled to be featuring one of the best punters in college football in Austin McNamara (48.2, 44.0 net!). They could use some OOMPH in the return game.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – The non-conference assignments include a pair of tough ones (Houston, at NC St) but they get Texas and Oklahoma at home and only have five road games.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – Nothing overly-spooky is noted.
Season Win Total
per BetOnline July 24
Over 5.5 -110
Under 5.5 -120
MEGALOCKS says:
No leanage.
That looks about right. We give them a 50/50 shot to make a bowl game.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
Texas Tech hasn’t tallied more than seven wins since 2013.
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
Texas Tech made a very interesting hire in Joey McGuire and early reports are that the team has a lot more enthusiasm and energy. They also made a pair of excellent choices for OC and DC. The offense is going to give teams trouble but there’s work to be done from a defensive standpoint. It wouldn’t surprise us to see them get to a bowl game but we think they’re a year away from being really dangerous.
Want more Texas Tech football ?
WEBSITE
https://texastech.com/sports/football
FORUM
https://247sports.com/college/texas-tech/Board/FOOTBALL-102951/
https://texastech.forums.rivals.com/forums/inside-the-double-t.20/
NEWS
https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/texas-tech-red-raiders/
http://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/2641/texas-tech-red-raiders