Texas Tech football hosts UCF: Scouting report, prediction for final regular season home game
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Just one home game remains for the Texas Tech football team this season (for now).
To this point, the Red Raiders have had no issues handling every team that’s walked down the Jones AT&T Stadium tunnel trying to spoil their good time. One last opponent, the UCF Knights, will try to do the job this time, but do they have the goods to get it done?
UCF is 4-5 overall and 1-5 in Big 12 Conference play in Scott Frost’s first year in his return as the Knights’ head coach. Joey McGuire’s had more success this season as his Red Raiders are now 9-1 overall, 6-1 in Big 12 play and on the verge of cementing a spot in the conference championship game and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Here’s what to look for when the Red Raiders host the Knights, including key matchups, players to watch and predicting the final score.
Matchup to watch: Texas Tech football’s passing offense vs UCF’s passing defense
It’s no secret that Behren Morton is banged up, dealing with an injury that even Joey McGuire said last week he’s not quite sure what it is. Morton was in obvious pain throughout the BYU game after getting sacked four times in the first half.
Morton may have a tougher time trying to find success through the air this week thanks to UCF’s pass defense, which ranks 12th in the nation in allowing just 168.2 yards per game.
With a hampered Morton, Texas Tech is better off trying to get the running game going. However, the Red Raiders will (obviously) need to pass to loosen up the defense, so getting quick throws to the likes of Reggie Virgil and Terrance Carter could open things up a bit.
Players to watch: Texas Tech football’s Lee Hunter and UCF’s Myles Montgomery
Lee Hunter was on the opposite sideline the first time UCF visited Lubbock in 2023. While linebackers Jacob Rodriguez and David Bailey have generated the most stats and attention, Hunter’s ability to clog up rushing lanes has helped Texas Tech maintain the best run defense in the country, giving up just 73.8 yards per game.
One of the former Knights teammates Hunter could see across from him is running back Myles Montgomery, though that’s in question. Montgomery left UCF’s game against Houston last week with a shoulder injury and his status is not yet official.
While Jaden Nixon isn’t too far behind in rushing yards (485) and has a team-high seven rushing scores, Montgomery gets the majority of the carries, totaling 595 yards and four scores so far this season.
Who has the advantage when Texas Tech football faces UCF?
Texas Tech offense vs. UCF defense: Texas Tech
UCF offense vs. Texas Tech defense: Texas Tech
The specialists: UCF
Score prediction for Texas Tech football vs UCF
Texas Tech 36, UCF 13: Even with a banged-up Morton, this is one of those games the Red Raiders should be able to simply out-talent the opposition. The goal for Texas Tech is to not let the Knights feel like they have a chance and getting out of dodge with an undefeated home record.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Can Texas Tech football close out a perfect home season against UCF?
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