Tuesday, Sept. 29
By Stephen Nover
Not since Georgia Tech beat Cumberland, 222-0, in 1916 could there be a high-scoring game in college football than the Texas Tech-Baylor matchup Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
At least that's what oddsmakers and the early marketplace are anticipating.
Before going on the Pregame radio show Tuesday morning with Paul Howard and Andy Iskoe, I remarked that the Texas Tech-Baylor game has a record total of 88. To which Howard replied, "It's short. It should be 90."
Well, as of Tuesday afternoon, a 90 is available.
This is believed to be the largest total ever for a football game. The previous high was 87 when Oklahoma State-Baylor met on Dec. 1, 2012.
There have 18 previous instances of totals of 80 or more points since 2006, according to research compiled by RJ Bell, CEO of Pregame.com and odds provider to the Associated Press. The over has cashed 12 times for 66 percent.
So go over or under?
Baylor leads the nation averaging 64 points per game. Texas Tech is No. 3 in scoring at 53.8 points a game.
The teams combined for 94 and 97 points, respectively, during the past two seasons. Baylor won 48-46 last year. The Bears also defeated the Red Raiders, 63-34, in 2013. The last four meetings between the two teams played in Arlington have averaged 97.2 points with Baylor winning by an average of 14.4 points in those games. The Bears currently are 17-point favorites.
Not only do these teams feature strong passing attacks, but also the two leading rushers in the Big 12, Baylor's Shock Linwood and Texas Tech's DeAndre Washington.
The Red Raiders gave up 55 points, 750 yards and 38 first downs to TCU this past Saturday. The two teams combined for one sack on 102 pass plays and had no takeaways.
Baylor is even more potent than TCU.
But a case can be made for the under. Texas Tech does practice against a spread offense such as Baylor's because that what its offense uses. Of course you need talent in the secondary.
Of more importance, though, is the condition of Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who is day-to-day after suffering a knee injury against TCU. Mahomes threw for 598 yards and six touchdowns against Baylor in last year's game.
In four games this season, Mahomes has thrown for 1,421 yards, rushed for 165 yards and accounted for 16 touchdowns. He gutted out the game against TCU playing with a knee brace after getting injured in the second quarter.
Junior Davis Webb would be Texas Tech's quarterback if Mahomes can't play. Webb was the starter until beaten out by Mahomes.
Texas Tech offensive coordinator Eric Morris was asked what would happen if Webb had to start instead of Mahomes. This is what he was quoted as saying in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: "Yeah, (Webb's) ready. He's done an incredible job coming in extra every single week and preparing like he did when he was a starter, so been proud of him in that regard. He hasn't slouched off and put the time in. He's in there putting hours in, breaking down film, knows where to go with the ball, been around this offense for a long time, so yeah, we wouldn't blink an eye."