| Oklahoma State WR Josh Stewart is the reigning Big 12 offensive player of the week. (US Presswire) |
No. 23 Texas Tech (7-3, 4-3 Big 12) at Oklahoma State (6-3, 4-2 Big 12)
Kickoff: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (Fox Sports Net)
Spread: Oklahoma State by 10.5
Watchability: Two of the nation's top passing offenses go against each other Saturday in Stillwater. Texas Tech is No. 18 in scoring (38.7 points per game). Oklahoma State is No. 3 (43.89 per game). If you like points, tune in.
Shining stars: Texas Tech -- QB Seth Doege. Quietly one of the nation's top quarterbacks, Doege has thrown for more than 300 yards in each of his last five games -- including a 476-yard explosion in last week's overtime win over Kansas. He has thrown 19 touchdowns and only three interceptions over the same span. Oklahoma State -- WR Josh Stewart. The reigning Big 12 offensive player of the week, Stewart caught 13 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns against West Virginia last week. For good measure, he added another 46 yards and a score on the ground, taking an end-around for a touchdown. Texas Tech's pass defense is tougher than WVU's, but Stewart is clearly the top option.
Who could steal the show: Texas Tech -- WR Eric Ward. Oklahoma State may have beaten WVU last week, but the Mountaineers had plenty of open receivers all game long. That should bode well for Ward, who is Doege's top target. Ward has averaged more than 155 yards per game in his last three outings. Oklahoma State -- RB Joseph Randle. Because Texas Tech's defense is one of the better units against the pass in the Big 12, Randle could have an even bigger workload than usual. The nation's No. 17 rusher (112 yards per game), Randle only had 74 yards against WVU -- one game after a mere 43-yard outing against Kansas State. He's due for a monster outing.
You going? Ranking the road trip: It will be Senior Day in Stillwater, as OSU honors 18 players who will suit up for their last home game at Boone Pickens Stadium. That should make the atmosphere a bit more special -- especially since the Cowboys still have plenty to play for in the final three weeks of the season.
Magic number for Texas Tech: 10. The Red Raiders have the No. 1 passing offense in the nation (370 yards per game) in large part because of their ability to distribute the ball to a large group of different targets. Doege has completed passes to 10 or more different receivers in eight of Texas Tech's 10 games this season.
Magic number for Oklahoma State: Zero. Two seniors not going through the Senior Day ceremony are WR Tracy Moore and RB Kye Staley. Both intend to return next season, as Moore qualifies for a medical redshirt and Staley was awarded a sixth year of eligibility. That means the class of departing seniors has accounted for zero touchdowns this season. Oklahoma State's offense should be plenty experienced next season.
The game comes down to: Can Texas Tech slow down the Oklahoma State running game? If the Red Raiders can handle Randle, they have the pass defense to limit the Cowboys' outside receivers and perhaps frustrate QB Clint Chelf (assuming Chelf starts, as OSU continues to play musical chairs at the position). This one could be a bit closer than the line might indicate.
Prediction: Oklahoma State 41, Texas Tech 38
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Big 12 bloggers C.J. Moore and Patrick Southern, follow @CBSSportsBig12 on Twitter. You can also follow C.J. (@cjmoore4) and Patrick (@patricksouthern).