Sam Houston Offensive Playmakers Texas Tech Must Contain In Lubbock - Yahoo Sports

Sam Houston comes into Lubbock at 1-2, but nobody watching tape would call this offense harmless. Locke is completing 67.6 percent of his passes and just put up 322 yards and four touchdowns in a 59-0 blowout of Nicholls, his third straight 300-yard passing performance. That kind of run puts real pressure on the Red Raiders' secondary before the ball even gets snapped at Jones AT&T Stadium.

The passing numbers stand out most. Sam Houston is averaging 345.7 yards through the air, and senior receiver Chris Reed gives Locke a proven target to lean on. Texas Tech's defensive backs will have to track multiple receiving threats all afternoon, not just spy one guy and call it a day.

For Red Raider fans expecting an easy tune-up, this game carries more risk than the records suggest. Tech is the heavy favorite, but a defense that treats Sam Houston like a pushover could get burned by a quarterback playing the best football of his young career. A team with a losing record just hung 59 points on somebody, and that alone should get Tech's attention before kickoff.