The Daily Texan Double Coverage 2019-11-26

T H E D A I LY TEXAN PRESENTS

Double Coverage VOL. 14 ISSUE 12 | NOV. 26, 2019

TEXAS VS. TEXAS TECH

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TEXAN

staff picks

MARCUS KRUM

WILLS L AY T O N

DONNAVAN SMOOT

MYAH TAY L O R

STEPHEN WAGNER

ALEX BRISEÑO

CLARK D A LT O N

DANIELA PEREZ

CAMERON PA R K E R

TEXAS TECH AT T E X A S

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS TECH

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

N O. 2 . O H I O S TAT E AT N O. 1 0 M I C H I G A N

MICHIGAN

OHIO STATE

OHIO STATE

OHIO STATE

OHIO STATE

OHIO STATE

OHIO STATE

OHIO STATE

OHIO STATE

N O. 5 A L A B A M A AT NO. 16 AUBURN

AUBURN

ALABAMA

AUBURN

ALABAMA

AUBURN

AUBURN

AUBURN

ALABAMA

ALABAMA

N O. 7 O K L A H O M A AT N O. 2 1 O K L A H O M A S TAT E N O. 1 3 W I S C O N S I N AT NO. 9 MINNESOTA

OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA STATE

OKLAHOMA

MINNESOTA WISCONSIN WISCONSIN MINNESOTA WISCONSIN WISCONSIN WISCONSIN MINNESOTA MINNESOTA

I OWA S TAT E AT K A N S A S S TAT E

KANSAS STATE

KANSAS STATE

IOWA STATE

IOWA STATE

KANSAS STATE

IOWA STATE

KANSAS STATE

IOWA STATE

KANSAS STATE

N O. 1 8 C I N C I N N AT I AT NO. 17 MEMPHIS

CINCINNATI

MEMPHIS

MEMPHIS

MEMPHIS

MEMPHIS

MEMPHIS

CINCINNATI

MEMPHIS

MEMPHIS

M I S S I S S I P P I AT M I S S I S S I P P I S TAT E

MISSISSIPPI MISSISSIPPI MISSISSIPPI MISSISSIPPI MISSISSIPPI MISSISSIPPI MISSISSIPPI MISSISSIPPI MISSISSIPPI STATE STATE STATE STATE STATE STATE

C A L I F O R N I A AT UCLA

UCLA

UCLA

M I A M I AT DUKE

MIAMI

MIAMI

DUKE

LAST WEEK’S RECORD OVERALL RECORD

5–5 60–40

8–2 60–40

9–1 59–41

DOUBLE COVERAGE Double Coverage Editor Design Editor Photo Editor Copy Editor

Marcus Krum Maria Perez Blaine Young Megan Shankle

CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA MIAMI 8–2 61–39

UCLA

CALIFORNIA

UCLA

CALIFORNIA

UCLA

DUKE

MIAMI

DUKE

MIAMI

DUKE

8–2 60–40

6–4 62–38

7–3 62–38

8–2 68–32

6–4 67–33

EDITOR’S NOTE Well, it was a fun ride. This Texas season was not what anyone expected — College Football Playoff hopes turned into Big 12 Championship hopes turned into Texas Bowl hopes. I hope that even as this Longhorn season ebbed and flowed with the inconsistencies of a mediocre program, you still enjoyed our coverage, because I know we’ve enjoyed putting this together. Let’s see if Texas can finish like us: 1–0 this week.

Writers Daniela Perez Donnavan Smoot Myah Taylor Stephen Wagner

Clark Dalton Wills Layton Cameron Parker

Marcus Krum, Double Coverage Editor

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BIG 12 3. IOWA STATE CYCLONES

Much like Texas earlier in the season, the Cyclones got Kansas’ best shot and almost stumbled. It took some late magic from sophomore quarterback Brock Purdy, but he got the job done as Iowa State scored 20 points in the fourth quarter to pull out a 41-31 victory in Ames, Iowa.

7. TCU HORNED FROGS Oklahoma really did everything it could to hand the Horned Frogs the game this week. Several fumbles and a late turnover on downs gave TCU a chance to go for the win. But while he’s shown flashes, freshman quarterback Max Duggan just couldn’t make the big play in Norman, Oklahoma, as the Horned Frogs’ record fell to 5–6.

double coverage

POWER RANKINGS 4. OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS

The Cowboys lost freshman quarterback Spencer Sanders for the season after a thumb injury he suffered in a win over Kansas two weeks ago. Senior Dru Brown stepped in for Sanders and had a very nice day, completing 76% of his passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns.

8. TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS The Red Raiders are one of those feisty Big 12 teams that can hang around with anybody. Last week, they gave Kansas State a run, but they just haven’t figured out how to finish. That being said, they’ll test Texas on Friday in a game where the Longhorns have little to play for other than dignity.

1. OKLAHOMA SOONERS Survive and advance. The Sooners again did *just* enough to escape with a win, this time over TCU. The offensive identity of this team is different than in years past — they ran for 366 yards against TCU — but they’re getting the job done with a stout and timely defense.

2. BAYLOR BEARS The Bears finally get a taste of the Big 12 Championship Game for the first time in program history. A dominant win over Texas sealed the deal. Ironically enough, the two programs appear to be headed in opposite directions at the moment.

5. TEXAS LONGHORNS

6. KANSAS STATE WILDCATS

It’s official: Texas is a mediocre team in what appears to be a mediocre conference. All hope for a potential Big 12 Championship is lost, as is any inkling of confidence that remained with this team.

Seats across the entire coaching staff have to be heating up quickly, and if the Longhorns end up losing out, head coach Tom Herman’s will too.

The Wildcats look a whole lot like the other Big 12 teams in the middle of the pack — they struggle to get separation from bad teams, but play well against strong opponents. This last week was a case of the former, as a late surge

by Texas Tech fell just short and allowed Kansas State to hold on for a 30-27 victory.

9. WesT VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS

10. KANSAS JAYHAWKS

With yet another one-possession loss, the Mountaineers are going to finish with a losing record and miss bowl eligibility for the first time since 2013. In a battle of backup quarterbacks, junior Jarret Doege showed he may have some potential, throwing for 307 yards and a touchdown in the loss.

Barring a miracle against Baylor this week, it looks as if Kansas is going to finish in the cellar of the Big 12. But new head coach Les Miles has the Jayhawks playing in some close conference games, including giving Iowa State a scare on the road this week. You can call that improvement, right?

BesT BETs for WEEK 14

By Cameron Parker Last week I lied to y’all and said it was my last column, but because Texas decided it was no longer good at football and ruined my perfect week, I decided to do one more so I can end my college career with a 4–0. Just to clarify, this is not because my editor told me to write it.

As a reminder, I’m not an expert by any stretch of the imagination. I’m just a college student who watches too much college football and places bets he can’t afford — like most of y’all.

This weekly column is where I will give you my best bets for the week in college football. I am not responsible for any money lost, so don’t request money from me on Venmo.

Last Week: 3–1 Overall: 24–11 Texas Tech at Texas(-10.5)

Texas is a 10-point favorite? After what we saw last week? And the week before that? Texas is 1–4 against the spread in the last five weeks, with the only cover coming against Iowa State

|

@camerondparker

two weeks ago. Texas hasn’t covered when favored since its victory over West Virginia, and I have a feeling that the team we’ll see on Friday is far from the team that won in Morgantown, West Virginia. With less than a week to prepare for the matchup against Texas Tech, I don’t expect to see any major changes to the offense, which gives me little confidence in Texas’ ability to win, much less cover. The only thing going for the Longhorns is that with last week’s loss to Kansas State, Tech is no longer bowl eligible.

The Red Raiders are still a sneaky team, and seemingly always give Texas fits. Don’t forget when they came into Austin two years ago and upset the Longhorns. Hopefully you’ll be doing better things than watching this game at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, but if that isn’t the case, stay away from the Horns.

Pick: Texas Tech(+10.5) BETTING

PAGE 11

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heisman watch

The best player in college football doesn’t always win the Heisman, or even gains the recognition he deserves.

While Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, Justin Fields and even Tua Tagovailoa have been nothing shy of incredible this season, a rare defensive player must be included.

Here’s what to watch for in the last week of the regular season:

Joe Burrow — Quarterback, LSU

Burrow’s 327 passing yards and three touchdowns shouldn’t have come as a surprise over lowly Arkansas in a game which featured the largest point spread between two SEC teams in the history of the conference. Somewhat incredibly, LSU didn’t cover the 42-point spread after taking a 56-6 fourth-quarter lead.

But LSU fans should have few concerns about their team after Burrow became the first quarterback in school history to throw for 4,000 yards.

With Tagovailoa out for the season with an injury and other candidates unable to match Burrow’s pace, his stage is set. Barring a bizarre meltdown against Texas A&M or against Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, Burrow will become LSU’s first Heisman winner in 60 years.

Jalen Hurts Oklahoma

–—

Quarterback,

Jalen Hurts is probably the most overlooked candidate on our list.

While other candidates receive national attention and praise, Hurts has received the short end of the stick after three consecutive weeks of nail-biting one-possession Sooner wins. Yes, Hurts’ fleeting hopes took a significant blow with only 145 yards and an interception against TCU, but last week was his only truly “weak” game of the season.

Outside of last week’s anomaly, Hurts has otherwise had a Heisman-worthy season — 3,184 yards passing, 30 touchdowns, six interceptions and a quarterback rating of 92.1. Had it not been for an incredible season from Burrow, Hurts might be sitting at the top of our list.

Now, with only two games remaining for Oklahoma, Jalen Hurts needs a miracle to improve his Heisman aspirations.

Justin Fields — Quarterback, Ohio State

It’s “The Game” week in Columbus, the magical time of year when Ohio State removes every letter M from campus in preparation for Saturday’s

By Stephen Wagner @stephenwag22

matchup against rival Michigan.

This year’s stakes are as high as ever, as the No. 2 Buckeyes prepare for their second consecutive Top-15 matchup after a sound victory over Penn State last weekend. Justin Fields, Ohio State’s sophomore quarterback, takes command of a powerful offense looking to bounce back after scoring a season-low 28 points against the Nittany Lions.

With the Big Ten East already clinched for the Buckeyes, this week’s game is an opportunity for Fields to secure his team’s spot in the College Football Playoff and to lock up his spot in New York for the Heisman ceremony.

Chase Young — Defensive end, Ohio State

The reality can be denied no longer — Chase Young is the best player in college football.

Although Young stayed off of our Heisman watch until the last week of the regular season, he walks the red carpet of our star-studded list in a big way. Against Penn State, Young broke the Buckeyes’ single-season sack record when he recorded his 16.5th sack on the year.

His 38 total tackles, 16.5 sacks and

rocky higine

seven forced fumbles say it all. However, a path to the Heisman proves difficult for Young as the committee traditionally favors offensive players.

His constant disruption of the

/ the daily texan staff

pockets, shredding of runs to his side and overall defensive dominance have him poised to be the first defensive player invited to New York since Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o in 2012.

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double coverage

A tough pill to swallow Seniors on this Texas team will be forced to finish out their final season with another year of disappoinment after Big 12 Championship hopes were dashed once again.

By Donnavan Smoot @dsmoot3D

joshua guenther

/ the daily tex

Sophomore linebacker Joseph Ossai (46) embraces senior safety Brandon Jones (19) during T 24-10 loss to Baylor last Saturday. Jones is one of a host of seniors who will end his Texas car without a Big 12 Championship.

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xan file

Texas’ reer

eddie gaspar

/ the daily texan file

Senior defensive lineman Malcolm Roach (32) tries to get past Baylor blockers in Texas’ 24-10 loss to the Bears in Waco. Roach has been a vocal leader in his final season on the team.

f

or the fifth time this season, the Longhorns were forced to put into words what yet another loss meant for the Texas program. The final thing many of the players and coaches saw after their loss to Baylor was a giant banner across the Jumbotron at McLane Stadium that read: “Championship Game Bound.”

That feeling of not being good enough has hit Texas multiple times this year. And unlike most things in life, the more it happens, the less normal it seems.

“When you win, you’re on top of the world. And when you lose, you feel like you hit rock bottom because we put in so much work every day,” senior defensive lineman Malcolm Roach said following the loss. “That’s the reason we feel like this after every loss … you put so much into it, and when it doesn’t go your way, it’s hard to swallow.”

Using Roach’s logic, the Longhorns have hit rock bottom five times this year — more than expected. This season has been a hard

one to process. Even if some of the goals — being a team that contends in the College Football Playoff, for example — were probably out of reach from the start, having the season go this poorly was never seen as a possibility.

After the most recent disappointing loss to Baylor, frustrations culminated in senior offensive lineman Zach Shackelford doing his best Bill Belichick impression, answering questions with cliches, one-liners and “next questions.”

“What do you think?” Shackelford said when asked if he expected his season to play out the way it has. “We’ve just got to get back to doing the little things. … We’ve just got to go 1–0 vs. Tech.”

The loss to the Bears ended a lot of possibilities for Texas, most notably the chance at a second-consecutive Big 12 Championship Game appearance, but the Longhorns still have one final regular season game.

Texas has stumbled into the end of the season out of gas, sputtering and looking for any kind of jumpstart at the next stop.

It still has one final game to infuse life

joshua guenther

/ the daily texan file

Freshman receiver Jake Smith (16) looks to help up senior receiver Devin Duvernay (6) in Texas’ 24-10 loss to Baylor last Saturday. Duvernay will play the final regular season game of his Texas career against Texas Tech on Friday.

into the season: a date with Texas Tech on Black Friday.

“We’ve got one game left in (Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium) for these seniors,” head coach Tom Herman said after the loss to Baylor. “And I’ll be damned if any of us throw in the towel because those guys deserve much more for everything that they’ve done for this program

When you win, you’re on top of the world. And when you lose, you feel like you hit rock bottom because we put in so much work every day.

MALCOLM ROACH defensive lineman

since we’ve gotten here.”

The underclassmen, especially those who are about to fill the void left by graduating seniors, understand the importance of the matter at hand. “(They) do deserve a win at the stadium on their way out,” junior defensive back Chris Brown said. “Seeing the things they’ve seen and (having) been through the things that they’ve been through, they’re more than deserving of a win for their last game at (Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium).”

It will be the end of an era for another senior class. It will also be the final senior class that was coached by Charlie Strong.

When he was fired, the program had to pick up the pieces. And to a certain extent, they succeeded when they won the Sugar Bowl in January.

Now they get to do it one more time.

Although it won’t be the most glamorous of games — an 11 a.m. game against a 4—7 team on Black Friday — it is the last opportunity for Texas to show what it is made of, and to show what could’ve been.

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OPPONENTS to watch

double coverage

By Myah Taylor | @t_myah

It’s almost the end of the road for what has been a wild year for Texas football. In January, the Longhorns hoisted the Sugar Bowl trophy above their heads as junior quarterback Sam Ehlinger declared Texas was back. Now, nearly a year after defeating a highly-ranked Georgia Bulldogs team, they’ve regressed to mediocrity yet again with five losses on the season. After facing game-changers like LSU’s Joe Burrow, Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb and Kansas’ Pooka Williams Jr. throughout the season, the Longhorns’ rollercoaster of a year will end on Black Friday when Texas hosts Texas Tech.

Here are four Red Raiders to watch in Texas’ regular season finale:

NO. 7

NO. 53

NO. 9

NO. 3

jett duffey

eli howard

T.j. vasher

Douglas Coleman III

Quarterback

Despite throwing 16 touchdowns and recording five 300-plus yard games in nine starts, junior Jett Duffey is not the most threatening quarterback Texas has faced this season. Through Week 12, the Mansfield, Texas, native had thrown just three interceptions, but his clean play halted against Kansas State last week when he threw two picks. In games when Duffey has turned the ball over, Texas Tech lost. Correlation doesn’t equal causation, but the Longhorns might want to force the quarterback into mistakes on Friday to secure a win.

Defensive lineman

Wide receiver

After two strong seasons as a starter, junior Eli Howard continues to improve.

Howard has recorded a sack in five of his last six starts, bringing his season total to 4.5. The defensive lineman has been an important piece of the Red Raider defense, as he can pressure opposing quarterbacks and defend well against the pass. Howard also knows how to turn defensive plays into points. At West Virginia a few weeks ago, he returned a fumble for a score. Texas hasn’t had as much trouble with ball security as the season has progressed, but they should still remain on high alert for this disruptive player.

Junior T.J. Vasher leads Texas Tech’s receiving core with six touchdowns, four of which have come against conference opponents. In 2019, the 6-foot-6 wideout has averaged 12.8 yards on 37 receptions, bringing his season total to 473 yards. While Vasher often finds himself in the end zone, he’s not a deep threat, as his longest reception of the season is 39 yards. The Texas defense has stepped up in recent weeks against talented offensive weapons. Despite Vasher’s size and ability to find his way into the end zone, the Longhorns should be able to limit him on shorter pass plays.

RECYCLE your copy of

Defensive back

Texas Tech boasts the nation’s leader in interceptions in senior Douglas Coleman III. Coleman has picked off opposing quarterbacks eight times. The defensive back from Zachary, Louisiana, is also a solid tackler with 49 solo takedowns this season. Baylor’s defense beat up on Texas junior quarterback Sam Ehlinger all game in the Longhorns’ loss to the Bears last weekend. Ehlinger has also thrown more picks this year than ever before, with all nine turnovers coming against conference opponents. As Texas’ offense falls apart and receivers continue to struggle to get separation, Ehlinger will have to be in top form Friday with Coleman coming to town.

all photos copyright texas tech athletics, and reproduced with permission

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GAMES to watch

By Clark Dalton | @Clarktdalton1T

No. 2 Ohio State at No. 10 Michigan Saturday, 11:00 a.m., FOX

This rivalry features two teams that top college football’s all-time win list.

Ohio State has dominated opponents this season, averaging 530 yards per game.

The Buckeyes also have a stout defense, allowing only 217 total yards. On the other hand, Michigan has been red-hot, winning six of its last seven. The

Wolverines also have home-field advantage in the Big House. The scarlet and gray machine faces a maize and blue team that is on the rise. It sounds like a recipe for another game that will echo the ghosts of the Ten Year War. One thing you can bet on is that both sides of the Toledo strip will be ready.

No. 5 Alabama at No. 16 Auburn Saturday, 2:30 p.m., CBS

A month ago, Alabama didn’t expect to be here. The Crimson Tide were 9–0, strolling to another playoff appearance before a loss to LSU. A season-ending injury to junior quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was just the latest blow to their playoff hopes, which are now hanging by a thin thread. Now, the National Championship dream rests on the right arm of redshirt sophomore quarterback Mac

Jones. Jones has talent — he has completed 71% of his career passes — but has never faced a test quite like this. The Tigers have been looking for that one big SEC win all season.

An opportunity to knock the Crimson Tide out of the playoffs is monumental. The Iron Bowl has been crazy over the past decade, and with these high stakes, it could come down to the wire again.

No. 13 Wisconsin at No. 9 Minnesota Saturday, 2:30 p.m, ABC

Wisconsin dominated this rivalry from 2004–2017, winning 14 games in a row.

The streak was snapped last year when the Golden Gophers walked into Camp Randall and throttled the Badgers 37-15. In 2019, Minnesota is hoping to start its own streak and clinch its first appearance in a Big Ten Championship Game. These teams are

polar opposites, as Minnesota relies on the pass, tossing for 247 yards per game, while the Badgers rush for 250 yards per contest. Wisconsin has been a hallmark of consistency, and Minnesota is trying to enter the national conversation. It’s a great day for the Big Ten with this rivalry having national relevance.

No. 18 Cincinnati at No. 17 Memphis Friday, 2:30 p.m., ABC

Whoever wins this game might be the next team that causes mayhem on New Year’s Day. Memphis has been a solid program that has waited a long time to get a shot on the national stage. The Tigers are powered by redshirt junior quarterback Brady White, who

has thrown 30 touchdowns this season. The Bearcats stand in their way. Cincinnati knows how to win big games, dethroning UCF, the previous American Athletic Conference champion. If the Tigers win this game, they can claim the throne as the new king.

No. 7 Oklahoma at No. 21 Oklahoma State Saturday, 7:00 p.m., FOX

One point was the difference between a win and a loss for the Cowboys last year in Norman, Oklahoma. This year, the series moves to Stillwater. Unfortunately for Oklahoma State, redshirt freshman quarterback Spencer Sanders is out for the rest of the

year with a thumb injury. However, redshirt sophomore running back Chuba Hubbard is good enough to carry a team to victory over a rival, especially against an Oklahoma team that has won its last three games by four points or less.

austin311.org austin311.org

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Double coverage

texas

Well that’s a wrap, folks. The Longhorns can no longer reach the Big 12 Championship after their loss to Baylor, and will now be jockeying with Iowa State and Kansas State for positions in some minor bowl games. For a team that had aspirations of making the College Football Playoff at the beginning of the season, that is … not great. But Texas should try to finish the season strong against Texas Tech to avoid the possibility of having a losing record.

Here’s how the game against Texas Tech could go:

By Wills Layton

|

@willsdebeast

eddie gaspar

/ the daily texan staff

Junior quarterback Sam Ehlinger looks to pass in Texas’ 24-10 loss to Baylor last Saturday. Ehlinger threw for 200 yards and one interception in the loss. joshua guenther

/ the daily texan staff

loses if....

Sophomore running back Keaontay Ingram (26) tries to manuver past Baylor defenders as senior receiver Devin Duvernay (6) tries to land a block in Texas’ 24-10 loss to the Bears. last week..

wins if.... … Sam Ehlinger finds his rhythm.

As we saw earlier this year and all of last season, junior quarterback Sam Ehlinger is still talented. Ehlinger has done his best with the plays that have been called and with the weapons that have stayed healthy, but he cannot do it all. If Ehlinger can get things going early against the Red Raiders, he will be very hard to stop. The Longhorns can win this game if Ehlinger leads the offense to more offensive production, especially in the first half.

… the defense continues to play with intensity.

After slugging through the early part of the

season with injuries and poor play-calling, the defense has stepped up for the past three weeks and is doing its absolute best to keep the Longhorns within fighting distance of their opponents. The unit has held the last three opponents, two of which were ranked, to no more than 24 points each. The return of sophomore defensive backs Caden Sterns and Jalen Green from injury have done wonders for the unit, and they are giving fans hope that next season will bring a more experienced defense. The defense only needs to replicate its impressive performance for one more regular season game, and if they do, the Longhorns can pull off the win at home.

… the offense is unable to produce for a third week in a row.

The Texas offense has been stuck in quicksand for the last few weeks. Against Iowa State, the offense did not start to produce anything until the final drive of the first half, notably electing to go for it on fourth down instead of taking three points earlier in the half.

The Longhorns would end up losing by two points. Against Baylor, the only offense the team could muster came on a 68-yard run by sophomore running back Keaontay Ingram at the end of the second half, which led to a 48yard field goal by sophomore kicker Cameron Dicker. The Longhorns would go on to score just one touchdown in garbage time when the chance of coming back was nonexistent. Texas will lose if they don’t get their act together

on the offensive side of the ball.

… the team plays like the season is over.

To be brutally honest, this game simply does not matter as much as it could have when the season began. Many assumed this would be a tune-up to a Big 12 Championship Game rematch with Oklahoma, not a matchup between teams with nothing to play for other than pride. The Texas program desperately needs to avoid ending the season on a threegame losing streak to keep fans hopeful for 2020. If the Longhorns approach this game as an obligation rather than as an opportunity to play one last time this year in Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, they will not be motivated enough to play hard and win this game.

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Notes from the opponent The Daily Texan spoke to Max Hengst, sports editor of The Daily Toreador.

By Marcus Krum | @marcuskrum

The Daily Texan: Every year, no matter

where the teams are, (this game is) always pretty close. What do you see from this Texas Tech team that has allowed them to play close games almost every week?

gets) big plays on third down, or even big plays in general, because (Tech) tends not to really give up too much. But there’s a couple of drives where they’ll just give up like 40yard plays, and it kind of kills them.

Max Hengst: It’s really been (the Texas

DT: This Tech defense is able to make big

Marquee Matchup of the Week No. 5 Alabama(-3) at No. 16 Auburn

Alabama will be playing without junior quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on the road, but I still feel confident in head coach Nick Saban. Maybe it’s because he’s the greatest college coach of all time, or because Auburn freshman quarterback Bo Nix has struggled over the second half of the season. This has upset written all over it, but with Alabama firmly in the Playoff discussion after Oregon’s loss, I expect the Tide to be ready to play.

Pick: Alabama(-3)

Lock of the Week No. 2 Ohio State(-9) at No. 10 Michigan

I would just like to thank Ohio State for being the best team to bet on all year.

The Buckeyes are 11–0 against the spread this year, and what better way to finish off the regular season than with a win over Michigan? Yes, the Wolverines and senior quarterback Shea Patterson have looked

MH: It’s an away game in Austin, and (Tech

(Tech does) have a new head coach. At the beginning when he first came here, he pretty much told the media, “We’re doing a completely new offensive defensive scheme so it’s like everyone’s still learning to play.” ... (Tech has) had really slow starts at the beginning of games and end up heating up in the second half, so I feel like that is a

has) only won one away game this season. So I feel like that might actually play a huge factor into the game, especially with UT-Austin having such a big stadium with tens of thousands of people, no matter how good or bad they’re doing. So hopefully they just have the right mindset. I’m a little worried, it could

like the Michigan team we thought they would ever since the loss to Penn State, and head coach Jim Harbaugh has a great record against the Buckeyes. Oh wait … he’s never actually defeated Ohio State.

Sophomore quarterback Justin Fields could play this game on a stretcher and it still wouldn’t change the result. Look forward to the inevitable “Harbaugh to Texas” rumors that will start after this one.

Pick: Ohio State(-9)

MH: I think it could be a couple of things.

MH: I think that’s probably the biggest threat is how he’s able to scramble and run the ball. There have been several games where he leads the team in rushing yards. Two games ago against TCU, even (Saturday), you’ll probably see that against Texas too. …

You’ll see a player like, “Oh, that’s a sack,” or “That’s a tackle for loss,” and somehow he ends up getting 15 yards out of it, which is crazy. I’ve never really seen anything like it.

FOR FALL

2020

Degenerate Gambler Bet of the Week Washington State at Washington(-8)

Both these schools join Texas on the list of programs with disappointing years coming off solid seasons. Washington suffered a brutal loss to Colorado last week while Washington State narrowly beat Oregon State by one point. Oof. Neither school deserves to be favored by more than a field goal in my opinion, but Vegas has blessed us with an eight-point line.

Just ignore the fact that Washington is on a seven-game win streak against the Cougars.

Pick: Washington State(+8)

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DT: You talked about not being able to win on the road. What is it about this Tech team this year that has caused that?

DT: As far as Jett Duffey at the quarterback position. What problems does he present for defenses, specifically as a guy that can be a mobile quarterback?

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plays and get some stops when they need to.

How do you think they match up with a Texas offense that has really struggled the last few weeks?

big factor. They can come back, but if you don’t have a good start there’s really not too much you can do when you’re down by three touchdowns.

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Tech) defense stepping up this year. I mean, (Tech) lost (its) starting quarterback Alan Bowman, and (they) have Jett Duffey starting now. He’s pretty good, but it seems like … they don’t really throw the ball down the field too much. They kind of stick to screens and some short runs, but (the Texas Tech) defense has been stepping up. (They’re) leading the Big 12 with (senior linebacker) Jordan Brooks with total tackles, and then (senior defensive back) Douglas Coleman III leading the nation in interceptions. … I think it’s really going to come down to if (Texas

go for them or against them, but since (Tech) just lost (Saturday, they’re) not eligible for a bowl game. So I’m hoping that they don’t give up on themselves. On the other side — this is officially the last game of the season, so they could have more motivation in a way.

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