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Oklahoma St.-Texas Tech Preview

Oct 13, 2010 - 3:03 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

No. 19 Oklahoma State (5-0) at Texas Tech (3-2), 3:30 p.m. EDT

Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden has helped the new-look Cowboys get off to an undefeated start, but he'll face a series of challenges this weekend to extend it.

With three of his receivers injured and possibly unavailable Saturday, Weeden and the No. 20 Cowboys will look to end a nine-game losing streak at Texas Tech that dates back to 1944.

Oklahoma State is 5-0 (1-0 Big 12) for the second time in three years, averaging 52.6 points and ranking fourth in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 526.2 yards of total offense per game.

The Cowboys, who lost five players from last season's team to the NFL draft, including two first-rounders and quarterback Zac Robinson, won as a ranked team for the first time this season with a 54-28 victory at Louisiana-Lafayette last week. Weeden went 29 of 47 for 351 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions while Kendall Hunter rushed for 126 yards and one touchdown.

"There's a lot of people that underestimated us but we don't worry about it. We really don't care," defensive end Richetti Jones said. "We just care about the people that are in our organization and in our circle. Outside of that, we really don't care. We just have to keep on working hard and just keep on playing.

"We'll let everyone talk and doubt. that's fine with us. We're just going to keep on going."

Oklahoma State's offense has been outstanding under Weeden, who has thrown for 1,610 yards and a conference-leading 18 touchdowns.

The junior quarterback can really separate himself from Robinson this weekend. Oklahoma State hasn't won at Texas Tech since 1944, losing nine straight in Lubbock including a 56-20 rout in 2008, when both clubs were ranked in the Top 10.

A victory would also give the Cowboys good momentum entering next week's home matchup with No. 7 Nebraska.

"Not that the first five weren't big, but yeah, they're going to get bigger," Weeden said. "They're going to get tougher."

Weeden could be without three of his targets this weekend. Coach Mike Gundy said on his radio show Tuesday night that Michael Harrison will miss the game and be out about 10 days following surgery to repair a fractured finger.

Gundy also said he doesn't expect Hubert Anyiam to play because of a sprained ankle, and is uncertain whether Josh Cooper will play after he sustained a head injury last week.

Gundy said Cooper was able to practice Tuesday but would be reevaluated.

Harrison and Anyiam each caught a touchdown passes in last week's win.

Texas Tech (3-2, 1-2) is coming off its first conference win, a 45-38 home victory over Baylor last Saturday. Senior quarterback Taylor Potts went 42 of 59 for 462 yards and four touchdowns to help the Red Raiders avoid their first 0-3 start in Big 12 play.

Potts, in his second year as the starter, has thrown for 1,649 yards and 17 TDs with four interceptions.

"It's a credit to the whole line, how fast and how quick they play, and how well they're in shape and how quick they get to the ball and get set," Potts said. "It wears defenses out."

The Red Raiders rushed for a season-best 173 yards after averaging 85.3 yards in their first four games.

While they hope the running game can add a dimension to their offense, their defense remains a problem. Over its first three Big 12 games, Texas Tech has allowed 114 points and an average of 422.7 yards total offense. It gave up 427 yards passing and 635 total yards to the Bears.

Texas Tech lost 24-17 to Oklahoma State last year in Stillwater.