• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Texas Tech-Nebraska Preview

Oct 14, 2009 - 2:58 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

No. 7 Texas Tech (4-2) at Nebraska (4-1), 3:30 p.m. EDT

Nebraska coach Bo Pelini seems more concerned about how well his offense, not defense, will fare when Texas Tech comes to Lincoln this weekend.

The 15th-ranked Cornhuskers try for a third straight victory when they face the Red Raiders and their high-powered offense Saturday in a Big 12 matchup.

Nebraska (4-1, 1-0) is averaging 404.6 yards and 36.8 points per game, but Pelini feels the offense needs to play better against strong competition.

The Cornhuskers have averaged 472 yards and 47.3 points in victories over non-BCS opponents Florida Atlantic, Arkansas State and Louisiana-Lafayette, but only 303 yards and 21 points in a 16-15 loss at then-No. 13 Virginia Tech and a 27-12 win at then-No. 24 Missouri.

Playing in a driving rain, Nebraska totaled a season-low 263 total yards - including 105 on the ground - but rallied with 27 fourth-quarter points to beat Missouri last week.

"Everyone wants to panic about the offense and what happened (at Missouri)," Pelini said. "You have to find your way through things."

While Pelini feels the Cornhuskers' defense - first in the Big 12 with averages of 162.6 passing yards and 8.0 points allowed - has a chance to hold its own against Texas Tech (4-2, 1-1), he knows the offense must be able to keep the Red Raiders' unit on the sidelines.

Texas Tech is second nationally in scoring offense (43 ppg), passing offense (444 ypg) and total offense (522 ypg). The Red Raiders allow averages of 349.7 yards and 21.3 points.

Despite holding a 20-minute advantage in time of possession, the Cornhuskers lost 37-31 in overtime at Lubbock last season.

"I don't know if you'll ever be in a game where you have that kind of time of possession," said Pelini, whose team will try to snap a three-game losing streak to Texas Tech. "The bottom line is we have to score points. You're not going to shut out this team. We need to match them."

Pelini will look for a better effort from junior quarterback Zac Lee, who completed 76 percent of his passes against this season's three weaker opponents, but 40 percent against Virginia Tech and Missouri. He did throw three fourth-quarter touchdowns against the Tigers.

"Everyone wants to point fingers at Zac. It's not Zac," Nebraska offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said.

Pelini would like to take some of the pressure off Lee by effectively running the ball. Junior Roy Helu, who's rushed for 552 yards and six TDs, will probably carry most of the load with freshman backup Rex Burkhead out with a foot injury.

The Cornhuskers average 168.0 yards on the ground, but have rushed for an average of 114.0 while being outscored 141-72 during their three-game losing streak to the Red Raiders.

"We've got to be able to run the ball better," Pelini said. "Not just against Texas Tech, but all the time."

While Pelini is challenging his offense, the Cornhuskers' defensive task remains a daunting one.

While original Red Raiders starting quarterback Taylor Potts could be available for the first time since suffering a concussion in a 48-28 win over New Mexico on Oct. 3, fellow junior Steven Sheffield could get his second straight start regardless.

Sheffield was 33 of 41 for 490 yards and threw for seven touchdowns during his first career start in Texas Tech's 66-14 win over Kansas State last Saturday. The former walk-on set a school record by throwing for 370 yards in the first half.

Potts has completed 67.7 percent of his passes for 1,817 yards and 13 touchdowns in five games, while Sheffield is 53 of 70 for 780 yards and 11 TDs in three contests.

Still, coach Mike Leach isn't tipping his cap toward either to start.

"You'll have to stay tuned, I suppose," Leach said. "That's what makes sports exciting is it always changes."

Texas Tech is still looking for its first road victory after losses to then-No. 2 Texas and then-No. 17 Houston. The Red Raiders have won at home the last two weeks, have but dropped their last four games against ranked opponents.

Nebraska's last win over Texas Tech was a 41-31 victory at home Oct. 20, 2001.