LAWRENCE, KS – The Kansas Jayhawks will look to secure their first conference win of the season, and the first under head coach Lance Leipold on Saturday afternoon against the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
GAME INFO
Date: October 16, 2021
Time: 3:00 P.M. CT
Location: David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, Kansas
TV: Big 12 Now/ESPN+
Records: Texas Tech: 4-2 (1-2); Kansas: 1-4 (0-2)
KEY PLAYERS
Texas Tech
Sarodorick Thompson: Sarodorick Thompson has become a bright spot for this Texas Tech offense. Thompson last week ran for 118 yards and three touchdowns on the ground vs TCU. He became the 10th Texas Tech player last Saturday to rush for three touchdowns in a game due to his performance. Thompson accounts for 6 touchdowns this season, 5 of the 6 on the ground, with 231 yards rushing.
Colin Schooler: Schooler leads the team in tackles with 52 on the season. He was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week two weeks ago in their win against the West Virginia Mountaineers, having his best performance of the season with 15 tackles and a forced fumble. This Red Raider defense will need to step up and find a way to slow down the run game, and Schooler will be a guy that this defense will need to rely on to make plays.
Kaylon Geiger: The transfer from Troy has proven to be a fantastic addition to this Texas Tech offense. Geiger had five receptions for 85 yards last week vs TCU. He already has a pair of 100-yard performances on the season, which were back-to-back performances against FIU and Texas. Geiger will be a guy that Kansas should look out for on Saturday.
Kansas
Jason Bean: Bean comes into this week as both the team’s leading passer and rusher. This Jayhawk offense has emphasized heavily in the run game for their scheme so far this season. Bean and the offense may not have had the type of performance that they wanted to have
against Iowa State, but the bye week should help them focus on getting back to the drawing board and focusing on the fundamentals. Bean has shown how dangerous he can be on the ground, and the heavy running attack is something that Jayhawk fans can expect to see from Bean and the offense on Saturday.
Devin Neal: The hometown kid has a promising future ahead of him. Neal has shown signs of improvement in every game and opportunity given to him. He currently accounts for two touchdowns on the ground, and 264 yards rushing so far on the season. Quarterback Jason Bean accounts for 291 yards this season on the ground, only 27 yards ahead of Neal. The freshman had 15 carries for 83 yards in the loss to Iowa State.
Kenny Logan Jr: The Jayhawks missed him the last time they took the field. Logan Jr. was ejected for targeting against Duke, causing him to sit out for the first half against Iowa State. Logan Jr. has proven so far this season that he has been the best defensive player for the Jayhawks. He currently ties with Gavin Potter as the team’s leading tackler with 36 tackles.
Key Storylines
Kansas comes into the game as a 16.5-point underdog. The last time the Red Raiders visited Lawrence, the Jayhawks won in surprising fashion, which resulted in the end of it all, on a game-winning field goal. The Jayhawks have not won a conference game since. There is no doubt, that the Red Raiders will be looking to seek revenge, and spoil Kansas’ homecoming this weekend.
Inconsistency On Defense
Both defenses come into the matchup after having sub-par performances.
The Jayhawk defense got embarrassed the last time they took the field against the Iowa State Cyclones. Brock Purdy tossed for four touchdowns, and Breece Hall accounted for two touchdowns on the ground. Having Kenny Logan Jr. out in the first half hurt the Jayhawks, and it only went downhill from there.
Texas Tech also got embarrassed on their homecoming weekend against the TCU Horned Frogs, 52-31. The Red Raider defense gave up almost 400 yards on the ground and allowed both Zach Evans and Kendre Miller to have 100+ yard performances.
The Running Attack
Both offenses enter the game with dangerous running attacks.
Quarterbacks Henry Colombi and Jason Bean are both dual-threats and can beat defenses in the air and on the ground.
Sarodorick Thompson became the 10th player in Texas Tech history to account for three rushing touchdowns last weekend versus TCU. Texas Tech has found success in the running game so far this season, with Thompson in the backfield.
Devin Neal will look to have his best performance of the season on Saturday, as he goes up against a defense that has mightily struggled in the running game lately.
Both teams defensively have struggled in stopping the run, and fans can expect both offenses to come into this game with a heavy running attack scheme.
Texas Tech vs Kansas Prediction
This game will be more competitive than most people think.
Both defenses will be put to the test on Saturday. Both Texas Tech and Kansas present a dangerous running attack, and it will come down to the defense that can be the most disruptive in that regard. The defense will need to win the battle upfront and play sound in the secondary. Having Logan Jr. to start unlike two weeks ago, should help the Jayhawk secondary. Creating turnovers will also be a key to success this weekend.
Offensively, running the ball will be heavily emphasized in this week’s matchup. It will also be important that Kansas utilizes the short passing game. They were able to do that in their game against Duke, and while Tech is currently dealing with several key injuries in the secondary, the Jayhawks should take advantage of it and capitalize.
It will be important for Kansas to continue minimizing the penalties like they have been doing, along with protecting the ball.
If the Jayhawks can start fast, they should have a chance to compete in this game. However, the Red Raiders will end up pulling away from this one late in the game. The Red Raider offense will end up opening up more in the passing game, and it will end up being too much for the Jayhawk secondary with the playmakers that they have.
Score Prediction
Score: Texas Tech 35, Kansas 17
Betting Line: -16.5, Texas Tech
O/U: 66.5