Texas Football: 3 bold predictions for dodgy Big 12 opener vs. Texas Tech

Byron Murphy helps create two pressure sacks

One of the quietest standouts for the Texas defense so far this season is the sophomore nose tackle Byron Murphy. And if there was ever the opportunity for Murphy to finally have a breakthrough game rushing the passer up the middle, it looks like it will be this one against the Red Raiders.

Another one of the notable weaknesses of this Texas Tech team is the play of the offensive line. Texas Tech has the worst pass-blocking offensive line in the Big 12 so far this season. In fact, Texas Tech has allowed a whopping 46 quarterback pressures through just three games so far. That is almost double the number of quarterback pressures as the next worst offensive line in the Big 12, which is the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Texas Tech is currently sporting an effectiveness rating in pass protection of just 83.1 percent.

It’s worth noting that the Texas Tech offensive line could be on pace to be the worst offensive line in pass pro since the Kansas Jayhawks during the 2020 season.

Nearly 40 percent of the quarterback pressures allowed on starting Texas Tech quarterback Donovan Smith so far this season have come from the center or right guard. And that is a gap where Murphy can exploit coming up the middle this weekend.

It wouldn’t be surprising in the slightest to me to see Murphy get home at least on one or two pressure sacks against Smith and the Red Raiders.