COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS (AP) -- Texas Tech coach Mike Leach dares Texas A&M to think it can simply keep the Red Raiders' powerful offense on the sideline at Kyle Field tomorrow.
Then again, that's what Nebraska did last week and nearly upset the No. 7 Red Raiders (6-0, 2-0 Big 12) in Lubbock. The unranked Cornhuskers won time of possession by more than 20 minutes in regulation, only to lose 37-31 in overtime.
Texas Tech only had the ball for 19 minutes, 48 seconds, and still racked up 421 total yards, an average of 8.8 yards per play. That didn't give the defensive players much time to rest, but Leach said that's their problem.
A&M coach Mike Sherman said the keepaway strategy will work only if the unranked Aggies (2-4, 0-2) finish every time-consuming drive with a touchdown. He's more concerned that the Aggies rank last in the Big 12 in turnover margin (minus-5).
A&M also has had little trouble moving the ball in the last two games, averaging 478 yards and 29 points. But sophomore quarterback Jerrod Johnson looks better with each drive and completed 29 of 41 passes for a school-record 419 yards in last week's 44-30 loss to Kansas State.
As good as the Aggies have started to look on offense, they aren't likely to win a shootout with the Red Raiders. Tech comes in averaging 556 yards and 46.3 points a game, among the national leaders as usual. A&M isn't likely to get many defensive stops, either.
(Copyright ©2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
