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Texas Tech looks to rebound against Baylor

Nov 29, 2008 - 12:09 PM Baylor (4-7) at (8) Texas Tech (10-1), 3:30 pm EST

LUBBOCK, Texas (Ticker) -- Even though its national championship hopes might have been crushed at Oklahoma, Texas Tech still has a lot at stake.

After suffering a humiliating 65-21 loss to the Sooners, the eighth-ranked Red Raiders return home Saturday to host Baylor in their regular-season finale.

With a victory, Texas Tech (10-1, 6-1 Big 12 South) would record just the third 11-win season in school history and likely secure a New Year's Day bowl game.

The Red Raiders would also gain a share of the Big 12 South title, but would need Oklahoma to lose at Oklahoma State to qualify for the Big 12 championship game.

However, if that does happen, Texas Tech could find itself back in the national championship picture.

"The team has accomplished a lot this year," Texas Tech defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill said. "One game doesn't make the season."

The Red Raiders, whose 12-game winning streak was snapped at Oklahoma, are looking for their third New Year's Day bowl game in the last four years. Their only previous 11-win campaigns came in 1953 and 1973.

Following the loss to Oklahoma, Texas Tech dropped six spots in the coaches' poll. The Red Raiders allowed 625 yards of total offense.

They will look to take some frustrations out on Baylor (4-7, 2-5), which is concluding its first season under coach Art Briles.

Although he lacks the experience of the better-known quarterbacks in the Big 12, 18-year-old Baylor freshman Robert Griffin bears watching.

A dual threat, Griffin has set a school record by being responsible for 25 touchdowns - 14 passing and 11 rushing. He has passed for 2,000 yards and rushed for 744 - the second-best total on the team.

Griffin has rushed for more than 100 yards three times, including a 101-yard effort against Texas, and passed for a season-best 283 yards in a 31-28 loss to Big 12 North winner Missouri.

While still facing an uphill climb in the rugged Big 12, the Bears are not quite the pushovers they used to be. They led Nebraska at halftime in a 32-20 loss and were tied with Missouri in the fourth quarter.

Baylor has, however, lost 12 straight against Texas Tech, dating to 1995. They have dropped the last nine meetings by at least 25 points.