On the Pitch
Texas Tech soccer is set to begin and the Red Raiders are picked to finish 5th in the Big 12, while three Red Raiders received preseason recognition:
D Kylie Bahr, Texas Tech
D Eleanor Hays, Texas Tech
F Taylor Zdrojewski, Texas Tech
And here’s the predicted order of finish:
1. TCU – 222 (13)
2. Colorado – 187 (1)
3. Kansas – 182
West Virginia – 182 (1)
5. Texas Tech – 180 (1)
6. BYU – 164
7. Baylor – 153
8. UCF – 127
9. Arizona State – 111
10. Houston – 84
11. Utah – 77
12. Arizona – 70
13. Oklahoma State – 62
14. K-State – 48
15. Cincinnati – 42
16. Iowa State – 29
On the Hardwood
Josiah Moseley recently represented and played for Belize in international play, the Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo, and averaged 23.8 points and 8.6 boards a game for his home country.
On the Gridiron
NBC Sports’ Nicole Auerbach previews the Big 12 and this is a good general read about the Big 12, so read away.
ESPN’s Heather Dinich with 31 teams that can make the playoffs. Dinich has BYU at No. 13, while Texas Tech is at No. 14:
Agree or disagree with ESPN Analytics: Mostly agree. Like BYU, Texas Tech is a front-runner to play in the Big 12 title game, which gives it at least a 50% chance to reach the CFP. The roster is still loaded even without quarterback Brendan Sorsby, but the Red Raiders need to keep their new starter, Will Hammond, healthy to make a playoff run.
Toughest test: Oct. 24 at Cincinnati. ESPN’s FPI gives Texas Tech at least an 80% chance to win each of its games, but this one is on the road against Sorsby’s former team. Even though Sorsby has moved on, this one could still be a trap game.
What the committee will like: A 2-0 record against the state of Arizona. Last year, ASU pulled off one of the season’s biggest upsets with its 26-22 win against Texas Tech, the Red Raiders’ lone loss of the season. This year, Texas Tech hosts ASU on Oct. 17 and Arizona on Halloween. Expectations are higher for the Wildcats, who could be a surprise contender for the Big 12, but they could both be tricky opponents with a trip to Cincy sandwiched in between.
What the committee won’t like: No BYU, Utah or K-State on the schedule. Texas Tech will miss what should be the league’s highest-ranked opponents. Its schedule is ranked No. 71 in the FBS, according to ESPN Analytics. The nonconference lineup includes Abilene Christian, Oregon State and Sam Houston. If Texas Tech doesn’t win the Big 12, its weaker schedule could be an issue for some committee members unless the Red Raiders are otherwise so dominant they look the part of a playoff team regardless.