GAME NOTES: Lone Star State rivals will collide in Austin, as the 15th-ranked Texas Longhorns welcome the Texas Tech Red Raiders to town for a Big 12 battle. Texas Tech finishes the regular season with back-to-back games against Texas and Oklahoma, a steep challenge to say the least. The Red Raiders improved to 7-3 overall with a 38-7 romp over Baylor last weekend. They are already eligible for a bowl game, but a victory this weekend would significantly improve their prospects. As for Texas, it came back from a 21-point, fourth- quarter deficit to beat Oklahoma State last weekend. That 38-35 triumph marked the fourth straight win for the Longhorns, who have three wins by three points this season. Texas holds a 41-14 series lead over Texas Tech and has won the last four games in the series.

Every season, Texas Tech finishes near the top of the national rankings in offensive production, and this year will be no different. The Red Raiders are averaging 42.4 ppg and 549.5 total ypg, tremendous numbers that fans of the program have come to expect. Considering that the club is only posting 67.4 rushing ypg, it is obvious that Tech relies heavily on the pass to move the ball and score points. Quarterback Graham Harrell has put up sensational numbers, as he has completed 73.5 percent of his passes for 4,412 yards with 38 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Michael Crabtree has been the nation's most productive receiver by far, as the freshman has already caught 104 passes for 1,512 yards and 18 touchdowns. Danny Amendola has made 86 catches for 1,014 yards and five touchdowns. In the romp over Baylor last weekend, Aaron Crawford caught two touchdown passes and ran for two more. Harrell finished 37-of-46 for 433 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.

Opponents are scoring 22.3 ppg against Texas Tech, which is allowing 344.6 total ypg. Stopping the run has been an area of strength for the Red Raiders, as they are limiting teams to 3.8 ypc. The pass defense has been fairly solid as well. Brandon Williams has been an impact player for the defense, as he has made 11.5 TFLs already. Joe Garcia paces the defense with 66 tackles, and Jamar Wall has four interceptions. Texas Tech nearly pitched a shutout against Baylor last weekend, as the only points for the Bears came on a touchdown with 49 seconds remaining on the game clock. The Red Raiders allowed just 282 total yards in the contest, including 91 rushing yards. A pair of takeaways certainly helped the cause.

Trailing 35-14, Texas tailback Jamaal Charles raced 18 yards for a touchdown with just over three minutes gone in the fourth quarter. When the Longhorns got the ball back, they started on their one-yard line, but on just the fourth play of the drive, Charles raced 75 yards for another score to but the Texas deficit to seven points. Just over four minutes later, the Longhorns managed to tie the score, as Vondrell McGee completed a six-play, 91-yard drive with a one-yard run. Texas claimed victory on the final play of regulation, as Ryan Bailey booted a 40-yard field goal. Charles finished with 180 yards and three touchdowns, while Colt McCoy threw for 282 yards and one touchdown to go along with 106 rushing yards. On a down note, McCoy was intercepted three times, a major reason Texas faced such a large deficit. Overall this season, Texas is averaging 34.3 ppg and 463.6 total ypg. Charles has rushed for 1,192 yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging 6.2 ypc, and his late-game heroics have made him a darkhorse Heisman candidate. McCoy has thrown for 2,632 yards and 16 touchdown, but 16 interceptions have hurt the squad.

Texas has to consider itself very fortunate to have won last weekend despite surrendering 594 total yards and 35 points to Oklahoma State. The Longhorns did not play strong defense through the first three quarters, but they certainly tightened in the fourth frame, paving the way for the comeback. A total of 430 passing yards were mustered against Texas on 30-of-42 passing without an interception. Opponents are scoring 21.4 ppg against Texas, which is yielding 348.9 total ypg. The 'Horns have been extremely tough against the run, as foes are gaining less than three yards per rushing attempt. There is room for improvement against the pass, as Texas proved last weekend that it can give up big yardage through the air.

Of course, Texas seems like the logical pick at home, but we are going with the Red Raiders. Michael Crabtree was held in check last week, but that won't happen again. Clearly, Colt McCoy is the second-best quarterback in this matchup.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Texas Tech 35, Texas 32