SALT LAKE CITY — If you think Texas Tech versus Utah is just another early-season Big 12 matchup, you clearly haven’t logged onto social media this week. The Red Raiders (3-0) and Utes (3-0) don’t share much history on the field, but their fans have been throwing digital haymakers like this is a long-standing blood feud. The game kicks off at noon Eastern (10 a.m. local time) on FOX, and if the teams bring even half the energy their fanbases are spilling online, we might actually have something special here.
Tech fans have been strutting into Salt Lake cyberspace with all the subtlety of a tortilla toss at Jones AT&T Stadium. They’re hyping up quarterback Behren Morton like he’s the second coming of Patrick Mahomes, while making sure to remind anyone listening that Utah’s “Pac-12 defense” never faced a true Air Raid. The word “SEC leftovers” has been tossed around too, because of course it has.
Meanwhile, Utah fans have fired back with their usual brand of passive-aggressive mountain smugness. They’re quick to remind Tech followers that their team has already won in Los Angeles and Laramie, and that Kyle Whittingham has been coaching longer than most Red Raiders students have been alive. They’re also pointing out that Utah’s defense doesn’t really care about hashtags, tweets or tortillas — it just eats yards for breakfast.
The national media has joined the pile-on, too. Some are calling this the “sneaky best game of Saturday’s noon window,” while others are more focused on the fact that ESPN’s “College GameDay” skipped over Salt Lake to go to Florida-Miami. Of course, Utah fans are spinning that into motivation. Tech fans? They’re just asking why GameDay doesn’t love them and promising to make FOX’s crew proud instead.
Vegas, for what it’s worth, has Utah as a slight favorite (-3), but the online chatter makes it sound like both teams are walking in undefeated juggernauts.
That’s the fun of this one: a pair of 3-0 squads with fanbases who believe their program has been disrespected for too long.
So forget the stats for a moment. This game is about pride, passion and who gets the last laugh on Saturday afternoon. And if the football is half as entertaining as the Twitter wars, we’re in for a treat.
Alright, so pretty vanilla stuff from the Barstool accounts this week. Keep in mind, the Tech intern supposedly got fired last week and Utah has all that Mormon stuff going on over there, even if Provo is a bit more into it.
So, pretty light jabs from the Barstool guys, compared to Southern rivalries.
Let’s take a look at what the Burnerverse is saying, shall we?
Not bad!
Touché.
Funny.
Well that’s a wild stat.
Might be hard to tell who’s who at 10 in the morning, no?
Ooh, Mr. Numbers Guy.
Agreed, Dave.
Oh, alrighty then.
Tip of the cap to an honest Pokes fan.
Some more stats for your viewing pleasure.
Alright, here’s our 5 reasons why each team wins, section.
5 Reasons Why Utah Beats Texas Tech:
5 Reasons Why Texas Tech Beats Utah:
How to Watch Texas Tech vs. Utah:
Statistical Breakdown of Texas Tech and Utah:
In the meantime, check out our full game preview and score prediction here.
Check Out All EasySportz College Football Content Here!
Looking Back on Vandy Football
