Texas Tech returns to the friendly confines of Jones AT&T Stadium for a Halloween showdown against the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Halloween game will be a blackout where fans are encouraged to dress in black.

Texas Tech (5-3, 2-3 Big 12) enters the contest following a disastrous 63-27 loss at No. 17 Oklahoma this past Saturday. The other two losses on the Red Raider schedule this year came at the hands of top 5 opponents Baylor and TCU.

Undefeated Oklahoma State (7-0, 4-0 Big 12) comes to Lubbock having beaten Texas Tech for seven straight years. The Cowboys are ranked 12th in the nation this year and are the Red Raiders' 4th ranked opponent.

Nuts and bolts

Oklahoma State has not played anyone with a winning record at this point in the season; their opponents had an 18-27 record combined. Add that to a botched punt that the Longhorns gifted them at the end of the game, an OT win against West Virginia and a 2-point victory over Kansas State, and the Cowboys suddenly seem to be on upset alert in Lubbock.

This game is a milestone for Coach Kingsbury, who hasn't beaten a ranked opponent since beating Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl following the 2013 season. It was 2008 when the Cowboys were last handled by Texas Tech.

If Texas Tech wants to take a step forward in the Big 12, they need to beat some ranked opponents and not just be satisfied with beating bad teams every year.

Offense

The offense has to start fast. Kingsbury knows this. They have to limit penalties and they have to run the ball well. It's that simple.

That may be easier said than done.

The Oklahoma State defense is the best defense in the Big 12. Better than Oklahoma.

This Texas Tech team has a problem believing that they are good. They are. Well, the offense is. If they can get some momentum again like they had early in the year, this team could get on a run to end the year. If they can't get the confidence back, they may not win another game this season.

One guy on the Texas Tech offense that is playing with confidence is DeAndre Washington. There is plenty of room for the team to climb on his back and he can lead them.

Defense

The Red Raider defense has made strides in forcing turnovers under David Gibbs. Texas Tech currently ranks ninth nationally and second in the Big 12 with 17 forced turnovers this year -- nine of those have come in conference play.

The defense has to create turnovers if they want to win Saturday.

This week, David Gibbs was asked at his weekly press conference if they were anticipating Oklahoma State to run the ball. Gibbs responded, "Yes, ma'am. Why would you pass it? I would just hand it off every snap, but I've said that all year, until we show we can stop it. We'll keep grinding."

Gibbs is about to find out just how accurate his statement is.

Prediction

OSU keeps the streak going to eight years, but Texas Tech shows signs of life.

Final score prediction: OSU 42 TTU 38

Texas Tech tailgating photos

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