2009 Texas Tech Football Predictions

2008 was a good year to be a Texas Tech football fan. The Red Raiders jumped out to a 10-0 start and finished the season 11-2, which included a 7-1 conference mark and a share of the Big 12 South title. But what can be expected in Lubbock this season after losing the best wide receiver in the country and one of the most prolific passers in NCAA history? Find out where I have the Red Raiders finishing in the Big 12 South in this 2009 NCAA football betting preview. Texas Tech is listed at +6,000 to win the 2009 BCS title.

Offense - Coach Mike Leach has been inked in for another five years and $12.7 million following a stellar 2008 season. We’ll find out what the coach is really made of as he must go to battle without quarterback Graham Harrell, the NCAA’s all-time passing touchdowns leader, and two-time Biletnikoff Award winner Michael Crabtree. Most scouts have given Leach’s system most of the credit for the astronomical numbers his quarterbacks have put up and it appears junior Taylor Potts will be the latest signal caller to see if the system can work for him. However, Leach was not overly excited about his performance in the spring game. But he does seem enthused about the receiving corps, even without Crabtree. Starters Lyle Long and Detron Lewis return to lead a unit which Leach feels will still be dangerous. Lewis is the team’s top returning receiver, catching 76 passes for 913 yards and three touchdowns last season. Leach is also big on the prospects of the running game with junior running back Baron Batch coming off a 758-yard, seven-touchdown season. But it will be interesting to see if the running attack will be as effective if teams aren’t as worried about the pass in Lubbock this year. The offensive line lost some quality performers, but 6′7”, 374-pound tackle Brandon Carter, who looks more like a WWF wrestler than a football player, is back to anchor the line.

Defense – The defense improved in 2008 under first-year coordinator Ruffin McNeil and that is why the Red Raiders emerged as legit national title contenders. But it’s going to be hard for Tech to continue to make progress on this side of the ball after losing elite pass rushers Brandon Williams and McKinner Dixon, who combined for 22 sacks, and play-making safeties Darcel McBath and Daniel Charbonnet, who combined for 12 interceptions. With a pair of backups being asked to fill in at the defensive end spots and likely a pair of freshmen at the safety positions, the Red Raiders won’t feature a defense capable of making as many big plays. That means that the linebacker unit will be relied upon heavily all season long. All three starting backers are back, including leading tackler Brian Duncan, who came away with 94 stops last season.

Prediction: 4th Big 12 South – With all the major contributors that were lost on both sides of the football, the Red Raiders will be taken down a few notches following last year’s 11-win campaign. Still, Tech will remain a dangerous team to play because of Leach’s offensive wizardry. Texas Tech is listed at +850 to win the Big 12 South Division at BetUS.

Take on the football odds makers at BetUS this season with your football picks and receive a special $500 match bonus.

Jimmy Boyd’s NCAA football picks will keep you cashing all season long!

If you liked this article, you may also be interested in:

• Texas Tech at Texas Football Lines & Picks
• North Texas 2009 College Football Predictions
• 2009 Texas A&M Football Predictions
• 2009 Texas NCAA Football Predictions
• Texas Tech Wichita State Free College Basketball Pick for December 19, 2009

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