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Texas Tech hosts SMU in what could be high-scoring affair

Sep 13, 2008 - 10:02 AM SMU (1-1) at No. 12 Texas Tech (2-0), 7:00 pm EDT

LUBBOCK, Texas (Ticker) -- Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell had his way against Southern Methodist last season.

It could be more of the same Saturday, when the 12-ranked Red Raiders seek their 13th consecutive victory over the Mustangs, a winning streak that dates to 1989.

In last year's 49-9 win over SMU, Harrell completed 44-of-59 passes for 419 yards and four touchdowns. The 44 completions were a career high for Harrell, who then surpassed that mark four times.

Texas Tech's high-powered offense struggled at times in last week's 35-19 win at Nevada, and coach Mike Leach admitted he took too many chances in the game. The Red Raiders went for it on 4th-and-1 from their 30 on their first possession and failed.

"I thought I gambled stupid," Leach said. "I thought it was just dumb. Being in Reno, I guess I got the bug. I was stuck in a hotel where you don't have any clocks and they were pumping oxygen in there. I thought it was my lucky day, we won the game."

Harrell, who passed for an NCAA-best 5,705 yards last season, was far from his best. He threw two interceptions and completed only 19-of-46 passes for 297 yards.

Two completions to Michael Crabtree, including an 82-yard touchdown, accounted for 132 yards. Harrell completed a career-low 10 passes in the first half.

However, Texas Tech's beleaguered defense, which is ranked 95th in the Football Bowl Subdivision, surrendered only three field goals on Nevada's five trips inside the red zone.

SMU (1-1) recorded the first win of the June Jones era last week with a 47-36 victory over Texas State.

Bo Levi Mitchell threw five touchdown passes as the Mustangs snapped an 11-game losing streak, which had been tied for the longest in the country.