KU Jayhawks football vs. Texas Tech: prediction, streaming info for Saturday’s game
.JPG "Kansas Jayhawks running back Devin Neal finished Saturday’s home game against Oklahoma State with more than 300 yards of combined offense, rushing and receiving.")
Three-star football running back prospect Devin Neal surprised several college recruiting analysts when he verbally committed to the University of Kansas on March 20, 2020 — the spring before his senior year at Lawrence High School.
The 5-foot-11, 210-pound two-sport athlete pledged to play football at his hometown school for coach Les Miles and also participate in baseball for KU coach Ritch Price.
Neal’s choice perplexed some who figured the blue chip prospect would instead accept an offer from either Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Nebraska, Iowa, Baylor or West Virginia.
Neal ignored the naysayers, remaining loyal to the KU program — and current coach Lance Leipold — who was hired on April 30, 2021 after the Miles and the program parted ways. Next spring, Neal will also be playing for a new Jayhawks baseball coach, Dan Fitzgerald, who was hired June 15.
Neal’s quest to help revive KU football reached a pinnacle last Saturday. His 224 yards rushing on 32 carries and 110 yards receiving on six catches sparked KU (6-3, 3-3 Big 12) to a, 37-16 home victory over Oklahoma State. KU’s win assured bowl eligibility for the Jayhawks with three games left to play in the regular season.
“What makes this more special,” Neal said of the team wrapping up a bowl berth, “is when I originally did commit, there were people across the country asking, ‘Why would you waste your career?’ Now, to look back after a full year, to do what we’ve done, now they are saying, ‘Wow, they are doing something special over there.’
“It shows how we have come together as a team. It means more to me growing up two miles from campus. It means a lot.”
The sophomore Neal has gained 761 yards on 118 carries and scored seven touchdowns heading into Saturday’s game at Texas Tech (4-5, 2-4).
Kickoff is 6 p.m. at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock (TV: ESPN+). The Red Raiders are favored by 3 1/2 points.
Neal, this week’s winner of the Doak Walker running back of the week award, says the Jayhawks, who last qualified for a bowl in 2008, are focused on adding to their victory total this season. Games remain against Texas Tech, Texas (home) and Kansas State (road).
“The amount of work we put in the offseason to get to this point, we’re not done yet,” Neal said.
He gladly puts in that work in his quest to achieve great things for his hometown team.
“For me, Lawrence is more than just the city I’ve lived in my whole life. It’s part of who I am,” Neal wrote in his ‘Love Letter to Lawrence’ at kuathletics.com. “I love walking up and down Mass Street, something that can be worth your time even if you don’t end up buying anything. I love devouring a plate of wings at Jefferson’s, but still leaving enough room for a scoop or two of cookies and cream ice cream from Sylas and Maddy’s. I love explaining to people — or better yet, showing them — how cream cheese and bacon can come together to create the perfect slice of pizza. If you’re skeptical on that last one, I invite you to just trust the process (shout out to Pizza Shuttle — I wouldn’t know what to do without you).
“For someone who isn’t from here, seeing just how friendly the people are can be a bit of a culture shock, but in a good way. The people who live here bleed crimson and blue. My introduction to that came on April 7, 2008, the date the KU men’s basketball team won the national title. I was only 7, but I remember how Mario’s shot got my parents out of their seats and running around the house. Like pretty much everybody else within the Lawrence city limits that night, we made our way down to Mass Street. I bet I saw a thousand smiles.”
For KU to make the return flight from Lubbock late Saturday a happy one, the Jayhawks must slow a Texas Tech offense led by a backup quarterback. Tech, which needs to win two of its final three games to become bowl eligible under first-year coach Joey McGuire, will be without starting signal-caller Behren Morton, who injured his ankle in a 34-24 loss to TCU last Saturday. Morton has completed 96 of 168 passes for 1,117 yards and seven TDs. He’s thrown six interceptions.
Earlier this week, McGuire hadn’t decided who would get the call at QB.
Sophomore Donovan Smith has competed 146 of 220 passes for 1,505 yards and 12 touchdowns, with eight interceptions. Senior Tyler Shough has completed 16 of 34 passes for 245 yards and two TDs with two interceptions.
At KU, quarterback Jason Bean has started the past three games in place of usual starter Jalon Daniels, who hurt his shoulder in the first half of a 38-31 loss to TCU on Oct. 8 in Lawrence.
KU coach Lance Leipold has not commented on Daniels’ condition this week.
The Red Raiders have dominated the series with KU through the years, winning 21 of 23 games against the Jayhawks. That includes Tech’s 41-14 win over KU last season at Booth Memorial Stadium. Kansas snapped a 12-game losing streak to the Red Raiders by prevailing 37-34 on Oct. 26, 2019 in Lawrence..
Kansas’ only other win in the series spoiled Homecoming for the Red Raiders in 2001: The Jayhawks won 34-31 in overtime.
Texas Tech is 4-1 at home this season. The Red Raiders, who play two of their final three at home, have not secured five or more home wins since the 2009 season, when they finished 6-1 in Lubbock.
Prediction: Kansas 41, Texas Tech 34
Last game prediction: Kansas 45, Oklahoma State 27 (actual KU 37, Oklahoma State 16).
2022 record on picks: 6-3.
2022 record vs. spread: 4-5.
This story was originally published November 11, 2022 at 1:41 PM.
