By Scott Haynes, College Football Senior Editor

GAME NOTES: The 19th-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders have made light work of the competition this season and will seek out their third straight sacrificial lamb, when they play host to the Indiana State Sycamores from Jones SBC Stadium this weekend from Lubbock. Mike Leach's Red Raiders have opened the season with routs of both Florida International (56-3) and Sam Houston State (80-17) and will finally dive into Big 12 play following this contest. Lou West's Sycamores are still in search of their first win of the season, having dropped decisions to Eastern Illinois, St. Francis (Ind) and most recently Murray State (27-15). Indiana State is 0-9 all-time against members of the Big 12. This is the first-ever meeting between these two programs on the gridiron.

It's not as if Indiana State has struggled in moving the football up and down the field. The team is averaging over 400 yards of total offense per outing (408), getting a balance between the run (147) and the pass (261). While quarterback Blayne Baggett has completed nearly 60 percent of his passes, his TD to interception ratio is killing this team (two TDs and six INTs). Baggett's favorite target by far has been junior wideout Sam Logan, who leads the nation in receptions (10.0 rpg) and is coming off a whopping 17-catch effort against Murray State. The ground game is effective due to the efforts of senior tailback Andre Forte, who is averaging a healthy 6.2 yards per carry and leads the team with 284 yards total.

The Indiana State defense has been solid against the pass this year, yielding just 145.0. However, that number is probably deceiving due to the fact that the Sycamores have been torched by the run, to the tune of 224.3 yards per game and 5.1 yards per carry. As good as the pass defense has been, even that number will soar this week against the Tech passing attack. Defensive end Madison Miller leads the team in tackles (20), TFLs (4.5) and sacks (two). He is closely followed by linebacker Kyle Mitchell (19 tackles, 4.0 TFLs) and cornerback Kyle James (18 tackles). All three players must be on the top of their games if they are to slow down the Red Raider offense.

The Red Raiders posted 80 points in the win over Sam Houston State, the highest scoring output for the school in 52 years. However, believe it or not, Mike Leach called the dogs off in this game. Quarterback Cory Hodges went 26- of-37 for 436 yards and five TDs in the game, and actually threw for 356 yards and four TDs in the first half alone. In all, Tech rolled up 770 yards of total offense against the Bearkats (second-most in school history). Wide receiver Robert Johnson had a huge effort, catching eight balls, for a whopping 209 yards, while fellow standout Jarrett Hicks added a pair of touchdown grabs. The numbers on the season are overwhelming, as Tech is averaging 68.0 ppg, on 711.5 yards of total offense, including 584 through the air. Hodges is next in a long line of top-notch signal-callers for the Red Raiders, and has to get early consideration for the Heisman. All he has done in the first two games is complete 74.3 percent of his passes, for 890 yards and nine TDs, with no interceptions. His 215.5 passer rating is second in the nation behind only USC's Matt Leinart (243.7). Johnson has been Hodges' top target downfield and leads the team in receptions (17) and receiving yards (338) and is netting almost 20 yards per catch (19.9) and a national-best 169.0 yards per game.

The Red Raiders gave up just 253 total yards of offense to the Bearkats last time out and were especially tough against the run, limiting SHSU to a mere 58 yards on 28 carries. Still, the numbers on the year are skewed due to a lack of competition thus far. The team is allowing just 12.0 ppg, on 301 yards of total offense. Safety Dwayne Slay leads the team in tackles with 12 stops, followed closely by cornerback Antonio Huffman and his 11 total tackles. One concern may be the team's lack of big plays upfield on this side of the football. The Red Raiders have just 11 TFLs and four sacks on the year and have recorded just three turnovers (three fumble recoveries and no interceptions). While this unit hasn't been tested yet and probably won't be this weekend against the Sycamores, there could be reason for concern when the Big 12 slate rolls around.

The Sycamores have yet to win a game and they certainly won't get in the win column this week. The Red Raiders put up 80 points last time out and actually could have had more. Expect a lot of the same from the Tech juggernaut this time out, as Hodges and company continue to light up the scoreboard.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Texas Tech 64, Indiana State 6