2009 Texas Tech Red Raiders Football Preview
2009 Texas Tech Red Raiders season preview from Maddux Sports. Below you can find our official Texas Tech Red Raiders football preview as well as the 2009 Texas Tech Red Raiders Football Schedule. If you dont know how to beat the odds, give Maddux's winning NCAA picks a shot.
Coach: Mike Leach (10th year at Texas Tech)
Team Name: Red Raiders
2008 Overall Record: 11-2
Returning Starters: 11
After winning 11 games and tying for first in the Big 12 South, the #8 Texas Tech Red Raiders (11- 2 overall, 7- 1 Big 12) traveled to the Cotton Bowl where they lost to #20 Mississippi 34- 47. For the Raiders, it marked their second appearance in the Cotton Bowl in four years and their second loss in that venue.
Junior QB Taylor Potts (36 ATT, 23 COMP, 260 YDs, I INT, 2 TDs) gets the nod to start. He has to replace Graham Harrell and his 5,111 yards and 45 touchdown passes. This is a new beginning for Texas Tech that could certainly affect their ability to score points. Last season, they were ranked 3rd in the nation, scoring 43.8 PPG. Tech will also miss wideout Michael Crabtree who totaled 1,165 yards and crossed the goal line 19 times. Still, there is talent in the receiving ranks with this four wide receiver team putting some solid guys on the field, including Detron Lewis (76 REC, 913 YDs, 3 TDs), Edward Britton (35 REC, 577 YDs, 6 TDs) and Lyle Leong (18 REC, 206 YDs, 3 TDs). Junior RB Baron Batch (113 ATT, 758 YDs, 7 TDs) is ready to step up and start. He averaged 6.7 YPC in 2008. Although the O-line has lost some top guys, they return a bunch with experience, talent and skill.
The 74th rated defense allowed 27.9 PPG in 2008. Defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeil starts his first full season as coordinator. He did a good job last season as the “D” totaled 34 sacks, 18 picks and earned a plus-8 turnover margin. But major contributor Brandon Williams and his 13 sacks are gone. There could be good news if senior front man McKinner Dixon (33 TKLs, 9 SKs, 2 TFL), who was indefinitely suspended from the team, is allowed to come back. If he doesn’t, the line will need some major help. The secondary returns two starters at the corner spots—Jamar Wall (62 TKLs, 1 TFL, 2 INTs) and Brent Nickerson (27 TKLs). The safety unit is relatively inexperienced. The linebacking group is the best part of this defense with MLB Brian Duncan (94 TKLs, 0.5 SKs, 2 TFL, 2 INT) back as the top tackler and WLB Marlon Williams (73 TKLs, 3 SKs, 1.5 TFL) and SLB Bront Bird (64 TKLs, 1 SK, 3 TFL) protecting the outside.
Matt Williams (33- 33 Extra Pts, 2- 3 FG) won a kicking contest last year and proved to be more accurate than rostered kicker Donnie Carona. Carona may move to the punting position as Williams takes over his realm. The return game has numerous players vying to bring back kicks and punts. Corner Wall averaged 23.9 per kick returns and is a contender.
Head coach Mike Leach (76- 39 in nine years with Texas Tech) has recruited a bunch of fine skilled players on offense, which will once again assure that Tech will field a team capable of scoring bunches of points. Last season, the Red Raiders beat Texas 39- 33. This year the rematch occurs on September 19 in Texas. The game is huge for both clubs. With a schedule that includes some tough away games and a roster with a new starting quarterback don’t expect the 2009 Red Raiders to win 11. This is a third or fourth place team that will earn an invite to a middle tier bowl game.
Texas Tech Red Raiders Football Schedule
| Date | Team | Opponent | Site | Line | Total | Points | Opp Points |
| 9/5/2009 | Texas Tech | North Dakota | home | ||||
| 9/12/2009 | Texas Tech | Rice | home | ||||
| 9/19/2009 | Texas Tech | Texas | away | ||||
| 9/26/2009 | Texas Tech | Houston | away | ||||
| 10/3/2009 | Texas Tech | New Mexico | home | ||||
| 10/10/2009 | Texas Tech | Kansas St. | home | ||||
| 10/17/2009 | Texas Tech | Nebraska | away | ||||
| 10/24/2009 | Texas Tech | Texas A&M | home | ||||
| 10/31/2009 | Texas Tech | Kansas | home | ||||
| 11/14/2009 | Texas Tech | Oklahoma St. | away | ||||
| 11/21/2009 | Texas Tech | Oklahoma | home | ||||
| 11/28/2009 | Texas Tech | Baylor | neutral |
For more info on the 2009 Texas Tech Red Raiders football program, view the Red Raiders website or read up on the rest of the Big 12 ncaa football teams below.
