FACTS & STATS: Site: Jones AT&T Stadium (52,882) -- Lubbock, Texas. Television: ABC. Home Record: Texas A&M 5-0, Texas Tech 3-0. Away Record: Texas A&M 0-1, Texas Tech 2-1. Neutral Record: Texas A&M 0-0, Texas Tech 0-0. Conference Record: Texas A&M 2-0, Texas Tech 1-1. Series Record: Texas A&M leads, 34-30-1.

GAME NOTES: The two top teams in the Big 12 South Division meet in Lubbock, as the Texas Tech Red Raiders welcome the Texas A&M Aggies to Jones SBC Stadium. Texas A&M tied its largest comeback ever last weekend by erasing a 17-point deficit to knock off Oklahoma State, 24-23. At 5-1 overall, the Aggies are getting an increasing number of votes for the Top-25. They have won all five of their home games, while their lone road contest was an uninspiring loss to Miami. The Aggies now find themselves playing on the road against a Texas Tech team that has yet to lose in three home games this season. Behind second-year quarterback Graham Harrell, the Red Raiders boast the nation's top offense in terms of total yards. And after a 42-17 dismantling of Iowa State last weekend, Texas Tech enters this tilt with plenty of confidence. The Aggies hold a 34-30-1 edge in the head-to-head series, although Texas Tech has won the last two meetings, and nine of the last 12 overall.

The Aggies managed only 132 first-half yards against an Oklahoma State defense that was allowing an average of 443 yards, the worst such total in the Big 12. Jorvorskie Lane led the charge with three second-half touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving). Lane (4.5 ypc) leads the team with 10 rushing touchdowns, although he has had some help in the running game. Mike Goodson is averaging 4.8 ypc and combined, he and Lane are splitting backfield duties for an average of 126.7 ypg. Quarterback Stephen McGee actually leads the team with 455 rushing yards, as he averages 75.8 ypg on the ground. It is the ground game, which ranks seventh in the nation and leads the conference, that fuels the Aggies' offense. In the passing game, McGee is throwing for 151 ypg.

Defensively, the Aggies rank in the middle of the pack in terms of yardage allowed, and they have not been able to generate a whole lot of turnovers. Texas A&M averages only one sack per game, which ranks near the very bottom of the national rankings. Because the front-seven has not gotten a whole lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks, the Aggies are yielding a healthy average of 237.5 passing yards per game, which ranks eighth in the Big 12. Still, the unit was able to clamp down in the second half against Oklahoma State, giving the Aggies offense the opportunity to chip away at the deficit.

The Aggies will have their hands full trying to slow down the Texas Tech offense. Considering Texas Tech enters the game leading the nation in total offense (590 ypg), the Aggies can only hope to contain the Red Raiders. Harrell continues to post big numbers in Mike Leach's spread offense. The junior gunslinger is completing 73.5 percent of his passes for an average of 454.3 ypg, with a staggering 28 touchdowns and only three interceptions. Harrell has developed an insane chemistry with freshman wideout sensation Michael Crabtree, the nation's leader in receptions per game (11.67), receiving yards per game (179) and scoring (17 ppg). Through just six games, Crabtree has already piled up numbers that plenty of college receivers would love to have in a career: 70 catches, 1,074 yards and 17 touchdowns. He has begun his college career with six straight multiple TD games, already setting an NCAA freshman record for receiving touchdowns.

Statistically, the Texas Tech defense is performing rather well. But erase games against also-rans SMU (nine points allowed) and Northwestern State (seven points allowed), and the Red Raiders defense is ordinary, at best. This is the same group that allowed 49 points to Oklahoma State three weeks ago, and a combined 55 points to Rice and UTEP in the two weeks prior. Still, the Texas Tech defense performed admirably in last week's win, allowing only 287 yards of total offense to Iowa State. The defense is at its best when the offense is able to put up lots of first-half points, thus forcing opposing teams to become one-dimensional in hopes of mounting a comeback.

The Aggies will be running the ball plenty, and if effective, they can control the clock and keep the Texas Tech offense off the field. But the odds are stacked against the Aggies, who will run into a hot Texas Tech squad playing on its home turf. If Texas Tech mounts an early lead, the Aggies do not have the offensive resources to score points in spurts.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Texas Tech 38, Texas A&M 24