Dec 27, 2006, 17:50 GMT
Tempe, AZ - The Texas Tech Red Raiders will make their seventh consecutive bowl appearance when they collide with the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the Insight Bowl, which is being held at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.
Overall for Texas Tech, it will be the 30th bowl appearance for the school. However, the Red Raiders have not enjoyed much success, posting an 8-20-1 ledger in postseason play, and that includes last season's tough, 13-10 setback to Alabama in the Cotton Bowl. The Red Raiders stormed out of the gates in 2006, winning four of their first five games. Unfortunately the team could not keep up the momentum, dropping three of its next four contests, including back-to-back losses to Colorado and Iowa State. It was the first time Texas Tech lost consecutive games since the 2003 campaign. Luckily the team was able to regroup and close out the year with wins in two of its last three games.
As for the Gophers, they are no strangers to postseason play, as the team will be making its fifth straight bowl appearance, and 12th overall. Minnesota's bowl record dropped to 5-6 after last season's tough, 34-31 setback to Virginia in the Music City Bowl. Some might think it is a miracle the Gophers even advanced to postseason play, especially since the team opened the campaign with a 2-5 record, defeating only Kent State and Temple. After four consecutive losses to Purdue, Michigan, Penn State and Wisconsin, the season looked all but over for Minnesota, but the players rallied, kept faith and went on to close out the season with four wins in the last five games, including three straight victories.
This is the 18th annual Insight Bowl, but just the first time that a Big Ten school will participate in this postseason contest.
There is no secret behind the Red Raiders' offensive gameplan, as the team lives and dies by its passing attack. Texas Tech closed out the regular season producing 31.5 ppg, while averaging 440.5 total ypg, however the majority of those yards came via the pass, as the Red Raiders threw for a whopping 363.2 ypg. Much like previous quarterbacks for Texas Tech, Graham Harrell finished the 2006 campaign with gaudy numbers, completing 66.9 percent of his passes for an eye-popping 4,110 yards and 36 touchdowns against only 10 interceptions. Considering the lopsided pass-to-run ratio, it is obvious the receiving corps needed to be extremely productive and that was definitely the case. Seven players finished with 20 or more catches, while nine players caught at least one touchdown. Joel Filani and Robert Johnson were the top two targets for Harrell, as Filani collected 80 receptions for 1,138 yards and 12 scores, while Johnson also hauled in 80 passes for 774 yards and 10 touchdowns. It was the first time in school history two receivers finished with double-digit touchdown receptions. Since Texas Tech is a pass-first team, the ground game takes a back seat. The Red Raiders produced only 77.3 ypg on the ground this season, and the majority of the damage was done by Shannon Woods, who rushed for 817 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 6.1 ypc.
As for the defensive unit, the Red Raiders do not possess a tenacious squad, but they played well enough to help Texas Tech reach the postseason. The defensive unit surrendered 23.8 ppg, while holding the opposition to 323.1 total yards per contest. The unit only allowed 3.8 ypc, but surrendered 147.4 rushing yards per game. The Red Raiders performed much better against the pass, permitting only 175.7 ypg through the air. A knock against this unit has been its inability to make the big play, as the Red Raiders come into this contest with just 23 forced turnovers to their name and only 29 sacks. The unit also struggled in the red zone, allowing the opposition to score 86 percent of the time, while 18 of the 35 chances allowed went for touchdowns. Keyunta Dawson is an extremely dangerous player for Texas Tech, as the defensive lineman led the Red Raiders with 7.5 TFLs and six sacks. Linebacker Brock Stratton and safety Joe Garcia both put forth solid seasons, collecting 84 and 78 tackles, respectively.
The Golden Gophers also were solid offensively this season, but the team was more balanced when compared to its counterpart. Minnesota averaged an impressive 27.9 ppg on the year, thanks to a solid 368.6 total ypg. The Golden Gophers threw for 217.6 ypg, but were also solid on the ground, churning out 151 yards per contest. Amir Pinnix was impressive throughout the season for Minnesota, as the running back finished with 1,093 yards and nine scores. Alex Daniels was also helpful for the Gophers, chipping in 309 yards and five scores on the ground. As for the passing attack, Brian Cupito had a decent season for Minnesota, as the signal-caller completed 59.5 percent of his passes. Cupito finished the regular season with 2,556 passing yards and 19 touchdowns against eight interceptions. Logan Payne and Matt Spaeth were the top two targets for Cupito, as Payne caught 56 passes for 786 yards and eight touchdowns, while Spaeth hauled in 47 receptions for 564 yards and four scores.
The biggest disappointment for the Golden Gophers this season has been their play defensively, as Minnesota surrendered 24.5 ppg during the season, while allowing the opposition to produce a whopping 416.2 total ypg. The team has issues against the run and the pass, allowing a whopping 162.8 ypg on the ground and an even worse 253.5 ypg through the air. The only positive note about this unit was its ability to make timely plays, as the Golden Gophers forced 29 turnovers this season. Unfortunately the team was unable to put consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks, collecting just 23 sacks during the season. Minnesota also struggled on third down, allowing opponents to convert 47 percent of the time. Mike Sherels and William Van DeSteeg were the only two players to put forth consistent efforts each and every game. Sherels led the Golden Gophers with 98 tackles on the season, while Van DeSteeg posted 13.5 TFLs and nine sacks, both of which were team-highs.
The Golden Gophers definitely have the firepower to hang with Texas Tech, but unfortunately Minnesota has no chance of stopping the Red Raiders' offensive onslaught. Considering how poorly Minnesota played against the pass all season, expect Harrell to air out the ball early and often.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Texas Tech 45, Minnesota 27
© 2006 The Sports Network
Your Talkback on this Story