Three Keys: Texas Tech Red Raiders at Kansas Jayhawks

The top three things Kansas needs to do to avoid being upset by Texas Tech

It's an unusual position for the Kansas Jayhawks, as they are bowl eligible, in the Big 12 Conference race and a betting favorite late in the season. And while pre-season expectations thought that this would be a super competitive game that would have title game implications for the Red Raiders, it's the Jayhawks who are in position for a great postseason spot.

The Jayhawks should win this game, but what do they have to do in order to make that a reality?

Take Away The Run

The Red Raiders have been the most successful when Tahj Brooks is productive, and the Jayhawks are still relatively weak against the run. But Texas Tech has been fairly quick to abandon the run, and Kansas has been much better in the last few weeks. Behren Morton has filled in well for Tyler Shough, but he still is a young quarterback looking to minimize mistakes. Putting the game on his shoulders and then ramping up the pressure could make this a rough outing for the visitors. 

Quick Decisions

While Texas Tech hasn't been as good defensively as expected, they still have an ability to bring some pressure. Specifically, the defensive line is great at clogging up the center of the field and collapsing the pocket, while the defensive secondary provides great support on the outside for edge runs and screen passes. But the hardest part is that the rush gets there with very little warning, meaning that Jason Bean and the Kansas skill position players will need to be able to react quickly. Don't be surprised if Kansas gives up a couple sacks one minute and then completely blows out the Red Raiders the next.

No Special Teams Mistakes

As good as the offense and defense have been, the special teams has struggled the last few weeks. Missed field goals, muffed kickoffs and a lack of explosive plays have led to a regression on the unit that was entirely unexpected. Kansas doesn't need a big game-changing special teams play, but they need to make sure that they don't give the ball away.

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