Kansas Jayhawks football vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders: 5 things to know, betting line
The Kansas Jayhawks play the sixth game of their season against Texas Tech on Saturday.
Here are details and five things to know about the game.
THE DETAILS
Kickoff: 3 p.m. Saturday
Where: Booth Memorial Stadium, Lawrence
TV/streaming: ESPN+
Radio: WHB (810 AM) in Kansas City, KFH (1240 AM) in Wichita
The line: Texas Tech by 16 1/2
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
Reason for hope? KU played just one opponent to within two touchdowns in its winless 2020 season: the Texas Tech Red Raiders. In what ended up being the Jayhawks’ finale — their last scheduled game against Texas was canceled because of COVID — KU fell 16-13 at Texas Tech while forcing four turnovers. The Red Raiders’ game-winning points in the fourth quarter actually came on a blocked field goal: KU’s Caleb Sampson got his hand on a 36-yard attempt by Jonathan Garibay, but the ricochet still sailed through the uprights. The Jayhawks, who will have their homecoming this week, also defeated the Red Raiders during their 2019 homecoming, 37-34.
Special, indeed: Texas Tech has had impressive special teams play thus far, as evidenced by the unit’s No. 11 ranking in ESPN’s play-by-play-produced SP+ measure. Garibay is a perfect 7-for-7 on field goals, while Austin McNamara has averaged 45.7 yards on 19 punts — good for the second-best team mark in the Big 12.
Coming on strong. KU coach Lance Leipold has been pleased recently with his team’s run game and true freshman back Devin Neal. The Jayhawks have rushed for 175 yards in back-to-back weeks, with Neal going for 107 and 83 in those two contests. The last effort also came against Iowa State, which is tied for fifth nationally in opponents’ yards per carry (2.6).
“I think between getting a feel and gaining confidence and having some success is what I really kind of enjoy,” Leipold said of Neal’s development recently. “That’s the part sometimes that gets lost in this is when you see somebody where he was two months ago almost — not even really, six weeks ago — and to where he was in running the ball against one of the best run defenses in the country, that’s exciting for our future.”
A top threat. Texas Tech junior Erik Ezukanma leads the Big 12 in receiving yards per game, averaging 85.8 through five contests. KU, however, held Ezukanma to his lowest total a season ago, as he mustered just two catches for 20 yards in the Red Raiders’ home victory on Dec. 5.
Staying sound. KU is averaging 4.4 penalties per game in Leipold’s first season, which is the lowest mark in the Big 12 and 10th-lowest total nationally. The Jayhawks have averaged just three penalties over their last three contests.
