GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Baylor QB Charlie Brewer vs. Texas Tech defensive backs. With the Red Raiders’ QB scenario unknown, the focus will fall on Brewer and whether or not he can energize the Bears’ offense. Turnovers, dropped passes and inefficiency on third down all hurt the Bears in their loss to TCU on Saturday. Although the Horned Frogs defense is ranked much higher in a multitude of defensive categories, the Red Raiders have a capable and improving group of cornerbacks and safeties. Texas Tech needs to limit big plays by Baylor’s Jalen Hurd and Denzel Mims and thus relieve the pressure on whoever is playing QB for the Red Raiders to simply outscore the Bears.
DRAFT SLANT
–WR Denzel Mims caught one pass for 27 yards in Baylor’s loss to TCU. Somehow, the Bears showed improvement this season without Mims having an impressive season. He was a preseason all-Big 12 selection, but he’s nowhere near that status going into the regular-season finale.
ROSTER REPORT:
–S Chris Miller suffered a leg injury against TCU and is questionable for the Texas Tech game.
–RB JaMycal Hasty didn’t play against TCU. Coach Matt Rhule said he was medically cleared to play but held out for precautionary reasons due to an unspecified injury.
–CB Grayland Arnold has missed the last six games with an ankle injury. Rhule said two weeks ago that the team is looking into redshirting Arnold.
–LG Xavier Newman suffered a high ankle sprain in the win over Kansas and missed the next four games. He returned to action against Oklahoma State, but didn’t play at Iowa State.
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