Texas Tech (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)

Sam Houston State (0-0, 0-0 Southland)

Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.

TV: FSN

Odds: No line

The 2015 Texas Tech Red Raider Football season starts this Saturday as they host the Sam Houston State Bearkats from the Southland Conference. The Red Raiders and Bearkats last played in 2005 where Tech destroyed their cross state opponents 80-21.

The Red Raiders are looking to bounce back in 2015 after a disastrous 2014 campaign going 4-8 in the second season of Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury. The Bearkats finished the season at 11-5 in the FCS losing to eventual champion North Dakota State and enter the season ranked 4th in the FCS.

Offense

Red Raider Football released their two-deep on Sunday night and as expected there wasn’t any new information on the quarterback competition. Junior Davis Webb and Sophomore Patrick Mahomes were listed as “co-starters” in the two-deep roster as a Red Raider Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury has said multiple times in the pre-season that he will name a starter on game day for the season opener against Sam Houston State.

The Red Raiders will look to improve their running game behind an experienced offensive line and returning 1,000 rusher DeAndre Washington. If there is inconsistency from either Webb or Mahomes then the offense will have to be carried the running game. Jakeem Grant anchors a stable of young receivers who look to have breakout seasons, among them Dylan Cantrell and Devin Lauderdale.

Defense

The Red Raider Defense is under the direction of David Gibbs from the University of Houston Cougars and brings several years of college and NFL experience to the table. The Cougars created dozens of turnovers while he was coordinator there and is hoping to bring stability to the Tech Defense.

The defense is anchored by Linebacker Pete Robertson and lineman Rika Levi that is looking to bring the unit back from the bottom of the FBS ranks in 2014 to one of the most consistent of 2015.

Prediction

Texas Tech will start Mahomes at quarterback, but will struggle early with the better than expected pass defense of Sam Houston State. After a rough first quarter with Mahomes at the helm, the Red Raiders will pull away late in the first half behind the ground game of DeAndre Washington.

The new look Red Raiders defense will be the story line in the game, as they create two turnovers and limit the Bearkats on the ground to under 140 rushing yards.

Texas Tech 49

SHSU 17

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