NCAA Preview: West Virginia vs Texas Tech
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No. 20 West Virginia (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) at Texas Tech (3-2, 1-1), Noon p.m. (FS1)
Line: Texas Tech by 1.
Series Record: West Virginia leads 3-2.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
West Virginia can improve to 5-0 for the first time since 2012, with home games still ahead against league powers Oklahoma and Baylor. Texas Tech aims to rebound after 44-38 loss at Kansas State last week.
KEY MATCHUP
West Virginia: RBs Rushel Shell and Justin Crawford vs. Texas Tech's defense. A steady diet of running plays for West Virginia could lead to long drives and keep the ball out of the hands of Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes. A year ago Shell ran for 111 yards and two TDs in a 31-26 win over Texas Tech and the Mountaineers piled up 300 yards on the ground. Crawford, a junior college transfer, leads the Mountaineers with 83 yards per game.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
West Virginia: QB Skyler Howard. The senior is third in the Big 12 in completion percentage (66 percent) and fourth in passing yards (318 per game).
Texas Tech: WR Jonathan Giles. The sophomore leads the Big 12 in receptions per game (7.0) and receiving yards per game (122.8). He's caught seven TD passes, the longest a 64-yarder in the win over Louisiana Tech. He had three TD catches in that game.
FACTS & FIGURES
Texas Tech looks to extend its streak of nine home games -- a NCAA record -- in which it scored at least 50 points. ... The Mountaineers are 13-12 in road day games under coach Dana Holgorsen. ... In 43 games as head coach, Kliff Kingsbury has guided the Red Raider offense to at least 500 yards of total offense 27 times, including four games this season. Tech is averaging 649.8 yards of total offense. ... In the Holgorsen era, WVU has tallied 65 games with 300 or more yards of total offense, 49 games with 400 or more yards of total offense, 24 games with more than 500. ...Red Raiders LB Kris Williams has four sacks to rank fifth in the Big 12.
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