Column: Enjoy it, Tech, while you can

By JJ Stankevitz
Nov. 3, 2008

It's a moment Red Raider fans will replay in their minds over and over again: Harrell passes to Crabtree, evades two Texas defenders and waltzes into the end zone to give Texas Tech the lead over the No. 1 team in the nation with one second left on the clock.

Tech students rushed the field three times, which was moronic and caused the ensuing kickoff to be from the seven-and-a-half yard line. A celebration was set off in Lubbock, Texas, not seen since the city got indoor plumbing five years ago. Texas Tech had always been seen as that school that has a good start to the year before getting blown out by a better opponent (Texas and/or Oklahoma) before settling for eight or so wins. That perception changed Saturday night when the Red Raiders defeated Texas, by a score of 39-33, in what was one of the most entertaining college football games of the year.

Alright, so, good for Tech. They'll be partying in scenic Lubbock for the next week, and deservedly so. But Tech fans better enjoy it because, next week, Oklahoma State comes to the land of dust storms for another showdown in the Big 12 South. And that game has all the makings of a letdown game for the Red Raiders, who will enter it a perfect 9-0.

Texas Tech is in for a rude awakening if they think they can dance right through the Pokes, who played a close game with Texas last week before ultimately losing by four in Austin. The Cowboys are for real, and they've shown that they can win on the road behind the terrifying trio of Zac Robinson, Kendall Hunter and Dez Bryant, and surprisingly good offensive and defensive lines.

I'm not saying Tech will certainly lose their game against Oklahoma State, but it'll be close. It's their road game against Oklahoma that I can say with a pretty high degree of certainty will end with a loss.

This is the same Oklahoma team that, while struggling on defense, has scored more points against Kansas, Kansas State and Nebraska than Michael Crabtree has spent money on those diamond earrings he wears during every game. Granted, that's not exactly stiff competition for the Sooners, but they've been playing with a chip on their shoulder ever since losing to Texas in the Red River Shootout. There's no way that Oklahoma lets Texas Tech beat them at home, especially since a shot at the Big 12 South division title is back in play after Texas' loss.

The Big 12 South is a complete crapshoot at this point, as Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech all technically control their own destinies. Ultimately, I see a scenario where Oklahoma and Oklahoma State beat Texas Tech, setting up the annual Bedlam game between the Cowboys and Sooners, which will decide who goes to Kansas City and plays the winner of the Big 12 North.

So, continue to enjoy it, Texas Tech. While anything can happen, I'd wager that Lubbock has a better chance at being awarded a Summer Olympics bid than the Red Raiders have at winning the Big 12 South.

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Column: Enjoy it, Tech, while you can

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