Brent Brennan’s No. 22 Arizona team walks into one of the biggest games on its schedule with plenty on the line Friday night in Lubbock, where the Wildcats meet No. 13 Texas Tech on Halloween in a Big 12 matchup that could shake up the conference race.
Arizona can put itself at 4-1 in league play with a win, a mark that would leave it no worse than tied for second in the Big 12 entering Week 10. That’s the kind of result that would keep the Wildcats squarely in the conversation for a College Football Playoff berth, or at the very least a place in the Big 12 championship game picture.
The Wildcats have already shown they can handle themselves away from home. Arizona is 2-1 on the road this season, with a Week 2 loss at BYU in Provo balanced by wins at Washington State in Pullman and at West Virginia, where the Wildcats rolled to a 52-31 victory in Week 6.
Texas Tech brings a different kind of challenge. Joey McGuire’s team has built its identity around being one of the most physical groups in the country up front, on both sides of the ball. That toughness has powered a strong ground game, with J'Koby Williams leading the way at 619 rushing yards and five touchdowns while averaging 7.2 yards per carry.
The passing game has been less steady. Will Hammond has completed 67.8% of his throws for 1,561 yards, but he has just six passing touchdowns against six interceptions.
The Red Raiders have also been dangerous on defense, where they rank second nationally with 13 interceptions. Five of those have gone back for touchdowns, a major warning sign for an Arizona offense that has to protect the ball early. Noah Fifita has done a good job limiting damage lately, but he has tossed a handful of first-quarter interceptions this season, and that kind of start could tilt a road game quickly.
Arizona will be short-handed in the secondary. Star cornerback Jay'Vion Cole is out after leaving last Saturday’s game against Iowa State, and his absence is a significant loss. He is one of the highest-graded corners in the conference, and Dwight Bootle II is expected to take on a larger role against Texas Tech.
There are also questions on offense. Chris Hunter and Gio Richardson are both listed as questionable, which could leave Brennan and offensive coordinator Seth Doege without two key weapons at wide receiver.
Tight end Cole Rusk is doubtful after missing the last four games.
Arizona enters at 3-4 against the spread, while Texas Tech is also 3-4 against the number.
Game time is 9:00 a.m. Mountain Standard Time on Saturday, Oct.
- Odds are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
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