Texas Tech the Real Number 1

It's been argued over who is most deserving of being the number 1 team in the land. It started once Texas Tech defeated the Longhorns on the night following Halloween. Alabama jumped to number 1 after the upset in Lubbock. Tech jumped into the number 2 slot which was thought to have been for Penn St. Now that Penn St. has lost, it is truly a two team race for the National Championship. That is however, if they both remain unbeaten.

Alabama is ranked as the number one team in the land, and feel good about that. However, the Red Raiders may actually be the better team and with the better case for being ranked as number 1.

Alabama's a tough team playing better than everyone expected to be this early into Saban's regime. Playing many freshman and sophomore's at important spots on the team. They have dominated their competition in the SEC. The Tide has also won three key road games against ranked teams. They beat down the Tigers from Clemson in week 1. Then they went to the Georgia Dome to play against the Bulldogs on a blackout attempt. Then this past Saturday night, they traveled to face LSU and beat Saban's old team and won in overtime 27-21.

Bama's defense has played exceptional this season only allowing 14.5 points per game, this according to ESPN.com. Like I mentioned previously, they have also beaten down all three of their ranked opponents they have played this year. All of which were road games for Bama. Clemson was ranked #9, Georgia #3, and LSU #16. However, of these road victories, Clemson has since fired their coach and has struggle since the opening kickoff against the Crimson Tide and have yet to recover. Georgia has had many problems on the offensive line and have not lived up to their preseason expectations.

On the flip side the Red Raiders from Texas Tech have surpassed all expectations from the media this year thus far. They have the best receiver in all of college football in Michael Crabtree and an underrated quarterback in Graham Harrell.

Tech's body of work has been rather impressive, especially over the past three weeks. Tech, like Alabama did not have a tough non conference schedule, but has had a string of rough and tough games against Big XII opponents. Starting on October 25, they beat down the #23 Kansas Jayhawks with an easy victory putting up 63 points. Then they traveled home to face the #1 ranked and rivals Texas Longhorns and the rest is history. Harrel to Crabtree, touchdown with 1 second remaining in the game. Then this past week taking down the Oklahoma State Cowboys on 7 straight touchdown drives in route to a 56-20 wallop.

The Red Raiders have averaged 47.9 points per game this year, and 49.3 points per game in conference play. This according to ESPN.com as well. Tech has been consistent on the offensive end this year and has been scoring on everyone they have played this season. Crabtree and Harrell are legit Heisman candidates this year and likely to be named players of the year in the Big XII. They are running the ball this year and not slowing down anytime soon.

The Tech defense has also been rather underrated this season. Allowing only 22.2 points per game and have played even better in the clutch games on prime time. They, like most teams in the Big XII have problems stopping opponents offense but have risen to the occasion and stopped teams when needing stops. Against the Longhorns they forced two turnovers and also recorded a safety. They flustered McCoy all game long and held the dynamic running game of the Horns as well in check for the majority of the game. Against the Cowboys they held the top receiver Dez Bryant in check with only one catch in the first half and 4 for the entire game.

The other obvious case to make for Texas Tech as being the number 1 team in college football is that when the Texas Longhorns defeated the Oklahoma Sooners in the Red River Shootout, the Sooners at the time were ranked number 1, the Horns jumped from 5 to 1 in the standings. Now, after the Red Raiders defeated the top team in the land, wouldn't Tech swap spots and move into the number one slot? It only makes sense that if one team in the elite of teams moves to the top after knocking off the top dog, wouldn't it be the same for another team to move to the top spot if knocking off the top seed?

Texas Tech should be the top team in the land and they have proven they are worthy. I guess that there may be some bias that people do not believe that the Red Raiders are for real or if the clock will strike midnight in their next game at Norman, but that is to be seen. Texas Tech looks like the real deal and I have yet seen a defense stop this team on a consistent bases and slow them down. All will be forgotten though if they cannot take down their next biggest game of their lives as they travel into Norman and take on the Oklahoma Sooners, who are also in the mix in getting into the National Championship game.