Texas Tech comes into Saturday night’s matchup (at 8:00 ET on ABC) with an 10-0 record, a #2 ranking, and off of back-to-back wins over top 10 teams Texas and Oklahoma State. The Oklahoma Sooners will defend their home turf Saturday with a 9-1 record, a #5 ranking, and a loss to Texas (in Dallas at the Cotton Bowl) as their only blemish of the year.

Both teams have offenses that are pretty much ridiculous. Texas Tech, powered by the lethal combo of Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree, is #1 in the nation in passing yards per game with 438.6, and they are #2 in overall offense. Oklahoma is led by superstar sophomore Sam Bradford and is #4 in total offense and #3 in passing offense. Holy crap I am getting excited for this game.

If the over-under is anything less 100, take the over.

What are the keys to victory? I’ll run down a few in the preview and then offer up a prediction. But first, chime in with your prediction:

Texas Tech-Oklahoma Preview: Keys to victory for Texas Tech

1 — Emotion and Mindset

For two straight weeks, Texas Tech has played “the biggest game in school history” and they have won both of them. The Texas game was a knock down, drag out fight that they were able to pull out by the skin of their teeth with an incredible touchdown pass from Graham Harrell to Michael Crabtree in the final seconds. It is the kind of play a team makes when they are that season’s “darling of destiny.” (Case in point: think about Tennessee in 1998 and how they won a game on a phantom pass interference and another when Clint Stoerner fumbled while attempting to run out the clock. Some teams just get all the breaks for an entire season.)

Texas Tech needed no breaks against Oklahoma State, however. They thoroughly whooped the Cowboys, who failed to get Dez Bryant enough play-making opportunities. Now, the Red Raiders are 10-0 and have spent a two weeks since the Texas win listening to everyone tell them they are the greatest thing since sliced bread. Not to mention, they have played with a very high level of emotion and concentration for two consecutive weeks.

Can they maintain it? That is the key question. Norman will be a hostile environment and Oklahoma usually jumps out to early leads with their high-octane offense. If Texas Tech gets down, they can’t panic or lose their emotion. Emotion and mindset have been a strength of Texas Tech all year. It needs to be again.

2 — Pressure Sam Bradford to force turnovers

In Oklahoma’s lone loss this year, Sam Bradford was picked off twice by Texas. He has only been picked off four times in their other 9 games. Texas fell behind early but was able to come back because of timely special teams plays and turnovers. Sam Bradford has been spectacular through nearly two seasons, but has shown a propensity to lose his poise late in games or when Oklahoma is down. Texas Tech needs to capitalize on this and get to him every chance they can.

3 — Establish a ground game

Texas Tech is known for its aerial assault, but Texas won because they stayed committed to running the football. Colt McCoy threw 35 passes and as a team they ran it 35 times. Texas Tech doesn’t need such an even split (McCoy ran it 14 times himself, while Harrell won’t do that), but they do need to try to control the ball, especially late if they have a lead. The top two running backs for Texas Tech average over 5 yards per carry. The Red Raiders will rack up points behind the superb ability of Graham Harrell in leading the spread, but they can salt away a victory by pounding a struggling Oklahoma defense with the run.

Texas Tech-Oklahoma Preview: Keys to victory for Oklahoma

1 — Special frieking teams

Oklahoma has been plagued by special teams breakdowns all season long. They had Texas dead to rights with a 14-3 lead and all of the momentum before Jordan Shipley gave the Longhorns a glimmer of hope with a kickoff return for a TD. Oklahoma scored on the very next possession and could have been up 21-3. Instead, it was 21-10, and Texas got it back to 21-20 before the half. The Sooners dominated the first half in every way, but led by only one at the break. Take away the special teams failure and the game could have had a drastically different outcome.

Oklahoma almost always jumps out and has their offense clicking early. Texas Tech’s D has played well this year, but the offenses in the Big 12 this year, and Oklahoma specifically, have proven they could rack up points with 15 defenders on the field. If Oklahoma gets up early at home, they need to maintain their lead. If a special teams play can spark a struggling Red Raiders team, it could be deja vu all over again for Oklahoma in a big game at home.

2 — Sam Bradford needs to be better than Graham Harrell

In each of the key Big 12 games this year, the quarterback who has played better has been on the winning team. Colt McCoy outdueled Sam Bradford in Dallas, and Texas won. Graham Harrell made one more play that Colt McCoy in Lubbock, and Texas Tech won. Graham Harrell was better than Zack Robinson, Colt McCoy was better than Chase Daniel, and so on it goes.

Sam Bradford’s statistics are incredible. But the one whisper I continuously hear from people who watch the Big 12 closely is that Sam Bradford, while he has the prototypical body and arm of an NFL quarterback, lacks the moxie and winning ability of Colt McCoy and Graham Harrell. This game will be Sam Bradford’s chance to prove that he is a legit Heisman contender and that he can lead a team to victory in a hue game. He failed against Texas, but Oklahoma needs him to be better than the de facto Heisman front-runner right now, Graham Harrell. And part of Sam Bradford being able to do this will be the ability of his offensive line to protect him adequately.

3 — Bob Stoops needs to be better than Mike Leach

Last week, Texas Tech kicked the snot out of Oklahoma State because Mike Leach had his team mentally, emotionally, and tactically more prepared to play than Mike Gundy did. Oklahoma State inexplicably did not use Dez Bryant correctly, and their defense had no answer for Texas Tech. The defense part is not so egregious, because no defense can stop Texas Tech.

But no defense has been able to stop Oklahoma either. And while Texas Tech possesses one of the better defense’s Oklahoma has faced all year, they shouldn’t be able to contain Sam Bradford and the balanced attack of the Sooners — if Bob Stoops doesn’t screw it up, that is. His offense has been superb all year, but coaches sometimes outthink themselves and try to do “special” things in big games. I think this is what has made Mike Leach such a great coach: Texas Tech does what it does and it doesn’t seem to change from the preseason to regular season. They just execute and understand their identity.

Bob Stoops, however, does not have the reputation of a great big game coach; and I think part of the reason why is that he makes the same mistake other coaches make by not staying committed to doing the things they do well. Stoops and the Oklahoma coaches need to let Sam Bradford run the show and not outthink themselves. You know that Mike Leach will do so for Graham Harrell, which is why Graham Harrell has been so good in key spots.

Texas Tech-Oklahoma Prediction

I was really leaning towards picking Oklahoma when I began writing this. They are at home, Texas Tech has to be emotionally drained from the last two weeks, and Oklahoma’s offense is, overall, every bit as good as Texas Tech’s.

But there are two key differences between Texas Tech and Oklahoma: Graham Harrell-Mike Leach and Sam Bradford-Bob Stoops.

Graham Harrell has proven that he is clutch this season, and that he is the type of zone where he believes that he can make every play. Sam Bradford couldn’t do this in his biggest test of the season against Texas. And despite Bob Stoops longer and more decorated coaching resume, I actually trust Mike Leach more in a big game to have his team ready to play, and to not lose its identity. Bob Stoops and Sam Bradford can change my mind with a win Saturday night, but I’m not ready to bank my credibility as a prognosticator on it.

The Sooners are favored by somewhere around 6, but I’m taking the Red Raiders outright (and, like I said, the over if it’s anywhere under 100).

Texas Tech 56 – Oklahoma 52 in an another 2008 Big 12 instant classic.

[tags]texas tech red raiders, oklahoma sooners, college football, big 12[/tags]

Go to the Sports Agent Corner page to view past editions, and feel free to send an email to the Sports Agent Corner if there is a specific question you would like Gary to address in future weeks. You can also respond in the comments section and I’ll be sure that Gary sees your responses.)

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MSF: “Superagent” Leigh Steinberg was arrested last week for public intox. As a fellow sports agent, when you see a story like that about another agent with such a high profile, what is your reaction?

Gary Glick: Honestly, I don’t give much thought to that. All of us have a drink or two at times and it sort of falls into the category of “there but for the grace of God go I.” If it was a more serious charge of DWI, or domestic violence, or a charge relating to drug use it would be a big concern.

MSF: There is a lot of uncertainty right now regarding the future of the NFL’s relationship with the NFLPA due to the impending expiration of the CBA. Do you foresee an uncapped year? If so, what are the ramifications for the NFL?

Gary Glick: It would be difficult to imagine the NFL allowing things to proceed to the point of an uncapped year. That would have the potential of allowing players to essentially name their price and put football contracts up there with baseball contracts. I really do not foresee an uncapped year.

MSF: How is the NFLPA currently operating without a “true” leader after the passing of Gene Upshaw? Who do you think, or better yet, who do you want to see take over as NFLPA president?

Gary Glick: I had not had any direct dealings with Mr. Upshaw and to date, do not believe there has been the situation in which we have been able to see a positive or negative impact. I have not really noticed a difference yet. I continue to deal with those same individuals with whom I have always dealt. I believe at the time the heat of the CBA negotiations is turned up, we will see the difference. There are so many qualified individuals who would be qualified and who I believe could lead the next generation of the NFLPA. It would need to be an intelligent, former player. I have yet to hear any individuals being mentioned as strong candidates. I always thought Ray Farmer (the current Director of Pro Personnel for the Kansas City Chiefs) would be a perfect fit (I haven’t heard his or any other name being mentioned). But again, I deal with so many individuals directly or indirectly involved in the NFL that would be good for that position.

MSF: What are some recommendations you would give to the next NFLPA president.

Gary Glick: Somewhat consistently, the NFLPA (the NFL players’ union) is considered to be a weak union, at least relative to the other major sports. I believe its important for the next president to somehow quell that perception and to fight for stronger guaranteed contracts for players. Moreover, it would be good to see the union put up a stronger fight for players as well as former players without jeopardizing relations with the owners to the extent the fans are punished.

From an agent’s standpoint, Id like to see the NFLPA create a more equal footing for agents to compete. There is so much unregulated recruiting by agents who give players incentives to sign with that agency and rarely is anything done about it.

MSF: Let’s talk about some of the great football being played in your home state of Texas. UT-Texas Tech: What were your general impressions of the game? How does Graham Harrell compare to Colt McCoy as an NFL prospect? And how amazing is Michael Crabtree? What would you give up for a year to have Crabtree as a client?

Gary Glick: Generally, I can’t think of a college game I enjoyed watching as much as this one. Not only did it live up to the hype, it previewed 2 outstanding teams having outstanding seasons. From the previous seasons of following the Big 12 and watching Graham Harrell, I did not want to believe he was the “real deal”; but this year, I think he has proven that he is not only for real, but that he is more than just a “system” QB.

Previous QB’s at Texas Tech have had outstanding statistics, but could not make it in the NFL because their success in college was more of a result of the Texas Tech offensive system than it was because they were actual, legitimate NFL-caliber QB’s. Graham Harrell seems to be different. He makes good reads, has a very good pocket presence, never seems to panic, and picks up blitzes and executes as well as any QB in the country.

I believe Graham Harrell and Colt McCoy will probably be neck and neck in the NFL Draft and it will probably come down to the preference of an NFL team as well as the performance of each at the NFL Combine. Both are top quality QB’s who have really come on in their senior seasons.

As far as Crabtree, I can only say Wow! He has everything an NFL team could want: speed, good hands, strength, and ability to make yards after the catch. More than that, he appears to be a quality person off the field as well. I would definitely make sacrifices to have him as a client…I might even give up beer! He is the type of quality player on and off the field that an agent would be lucky to represent.

[tags]sports agent, nflpa[/tags]