GAME NOTES: The 11th-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders will attempt to remain unbeaten as they take on the Massachusetts Minutemen in Lubbock.

UMass is ranked ninth nationally among all FCS teams in the most recent Sports Network poll, but clearly enters this tilt as an underdog. The Minutemen are 2-1 this season, as they suffered their first loss last weekend to James Madison by a 52-38 final. UMass is playing its highest-ranked FBS opponent since 2003, and the program hasn't beat an FBS opponent since 1984 despite facing at least one FBS foe in nine of the past 10 years.

As for Texas Tech, it hopes to extend its streak of 10 consecutive wins over non-conference opponents. The Red Raiders are fresh off a 43-7 thrashing of SMU, and they have yet to be pushed by an opponent. This clash with the Minutemen closes out a weak non-conference slate for Tech, and the Big 12 will certainly present many challenges.

Saturday's clash marks the first-ever meeting between Texas Tech and UMass on the gridiron.

UMass has had little trouble moving the ball and scoring points this season, as the team is generating 37.0 ppg and 406.0 ypg of total offense. The Minutemen are led by one of the top quarterbacks in the FCS, Liam Coen, who has completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 826 yards and nine touchdowns against only one interception. He has also scored a rushing touchdown, although Coen isn't much of a threat on the move. Victor Cruz leads UMass with 18 catches for 351 yards, and he has scored two touchdowns. Jeremy Horne has three receiving touchdowns, and Tony Nelson paces the ground attack with 362 yards and five scores while averaging 5.8 ypc.

Coen threw for 339 yards and three touchdowns against James Madison last week, and Cruz posted 13 catches for 262 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Nelson ran for 109 yards and two touchdowns, but the offense simply could not overcome the weakness of the Minutemen defense.

Opponents are scoring 36.7 ppg against UMass, which is yielding 383.7 total ypg. Clearly, there is room for the defense to improve. Stopping the run has proven to be extremely problematic, as foes are generating 215.0 total ypg on an average of 5.0 ypc. Of the 14 touchdowns that opposing offenses have registered against the Minutemen, nine have come on the ground. Josh Jennings leads UMass with 26 tackles, and George Byrd has three TFLs.

The defense got manhandled up front by James Madison last week, as the Dukes rushed for 338 yards while averaging 5.8 ypc. Six rushing touchdowns were scored against the Minutemen, who looked completely helpless at times. The fact that JMU only attempted nine passes makes the rushing totals all the more troubling, as UMass knew what was coming and could do nothing to stop it.

It is no secret to fans of college football that Texas Tech runs an offense that heavily favors the pass. As a result, the team's quarterback usually always finishes a season with staggering personal stats. That was the case with Graham Harrell last season, and he is on his way to another banner campaign. Through three outings, Harrell has already thrown for 1,251 yards and eight touchdowns. His favorite receiver, Michael Crabtree, broke records as a freshman in 2007, and he has already posted 24 catches for 395 yards and five touchdowns this season.

As for the ground attack, Baron Batch is averaging 8.8 ypc on 21 attempts, and Shannon Woods has reached the end zone four times. "We are going to make plays," said Batch of the role that he and Woods play in the offense. "So if were passing and that's working, then that's fine with me. But we can always run, we have play makers in every position." Tech is averaging 42.3 ppg and 584.3 total ypg, staggering statistics to say the least.

Defensively, Texas Tech is limiting foes to 16.7 ppg and 375.3 total ypg. While those numbers are solid, it is important to remind folks that the team has yet to face quality opposition. The Red Raiders have been strong against the run, holding foes to 102.7 ypg on an average of 3.3 ypc. As for the pass defense, opposing quarterbacks have three touchdowns against nine interceptions. Tech has 10 sacks to its credit and will attempt to put plenty of pressure on Coen this weekend. Brian Duncan leads the Red Raiders with 23 stops, and both McKinner Dixon and Brandon Williams have recorded three sacks. Daniel Charbonnet has four interceptions already, three of which came last weekend against SMU. After the dominant effort against the Mustangs last week, Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach raved about his defense. "Defensively I couldn't be happier. There were times when he looked unstoppable and he needs to keep doing that."

Expect Texas Tech to roll to victory this weekend. Put simply, the Red Raiders are far superior to UMass in all aspects of the game. Although Leach favors the pass, expect a bit more of the ground attack considering the weakness of the Minutemen against the run.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Texas Tech 55, Massachusetts 14