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December 28, 2021; Memphis, TN, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver JJ Sparkman (84) reacts after a contact with Texas Tech Red Raiders offensive lineman Caleb Rogers (76) during the second half against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Liberty Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Thomas-USA Today Sports
It’s not a stretch to suggest that the 2022 Texas Tech football schedule is the toughest it has faced in two decades. Indeed, one look at the preseason coaches’ top 25 picks proves just how tough this year’s schedule is.
Released on Monday, the first pick of the year has six Red Raider opponents in the top 25 (Oklahoma, Baylor, Texas, NC State, Oklahoma State and Houston). This is 50% of the teams Joey McGuire’s team has faced this season.
It’s shaping up to be the most challenging schedule Tech has faced since 2002. That year, during Leif Kingsbury’s senior season, the Red Raiders opened the season at No. 13 Ohio State (the eventual national champions), with Eli Manning and Ole Miss on the road and Philip Rivers and No. 17 NC State in Lubbock.
Moreover, that season saw Tech face No. 23 Texas A&M, No. 11 Iowa State, No. 21 Colorado and No. 4 Oklahoma with one of those games coming at home.
Now, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index matchup predictions, Tech is favored in just four this season. Those four games are Murray State, Houston, West Virginia and Kansas.
Of course, ESPN’s matchup predictions are based on statistics, so those odds could change as the season unfolds. So, if the Red Raiders do well at the beginning of the year, they may find that they have been given the benefit of the doubt.
But as it stands now, Tech needs to pull off two upsets to reach bowl eligibility. Of course, the Red Raiders also have to take care of business in games they are supposed to win.
So today, let’s take a look at three games that the Red Raiders need to win this year. And we begin with a big conference tournament.
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