AMES, Iowa -- On paper, a trip to Iowa State would seem to be exactly what Texas Tech needs to get its wobbly season on track.In reality, playing the Cyclones on the road might not be that easy.Texas Tech (4-6, 2-5 Big 12) has lost five of its last six games, including a heartbreaker to Oklahoma State last week, and needs to win out to earn a bowl bid.But while Iowa State (2-8, 1-6) has also struggled in the Big 12, the matchups and the weather could give the Cyclones an edge.Iowa State rediscovered its running game in last weeks 31-24 win over the Jayhawks, rushing for a season-high 234 yards, and the Red Raiders have the worst rush defense in the league.Texas Tech also leans as much on its passing game as any team in the country, leading the Big 12 with 580 yards a game despite ranking last with just 105 of those on the ground.The reasons that might be such a big deal?The forecast for Saturday doesnt look promising, with temperatures in the low 40s and winds gusting up to 30 mph.Youve got to be ready to play wherever they place the ball down at whatever time. Youve got to be kind of trained for whatever. And whatever we end up, whatever the weather ends up doing, be ready to compete, Texas Techs Luke Stice said.Here are some of the main keys to follow as Tech looks to stay in the postseason picture:MAHOMES VS. THE CLONESTexas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes has thrown for 4,247 yards, far and away tops in the nation. But Iowa State ranks second in the Big 12 in passing defense, although to be fair part of that is because its also allowing 5.1 yards per carry. Still, only Baylor and Oklahoma have fewer yards per completion than the Cyclones in the league. When you look at their record its not indicative of how good a team they are. I think you look at the scores, theyve had teams beat and lost some close, tough games, Red Raiders coach Kliff Kingsbury said.IOWA STATES IMPROVEMENTChanging Iowa States culture has always been more of an emphasis in 2016 than winning and losing for first-year coach Matt Campbell. But after dropping four Big 12 games by 10 points or fewer, the Cyclones were finally able to see their hard work pay off with a win last week. I still dont think weve played 60 minutes of our best football, Campbell said. I know its never going to be perfect. But there are things we can continue to control and continue to get better at, and we need too.HARGERS MOMENTFifth-year senior Mitchell Harger, a walk-on, unexpectedly spent a series as Iowa States lead back and rushed for 58 yards and a touchdown on eight carries. Itll likely be the highlight of Hargers career after five years spent largely in the background. Just to have that moment, the touchdown...Id do it a million times over again, Harger said.THE SERIESIowa State and Texas Tech became new rivals when the Big 12 formed two decades ago. Its been a relatively lopsided series, with the Red Raiders coming out on top in 11 of 14 meetings. But the Cyclones beat Tech and Kingsbury, then the Red Raiders quarterback, 31-17 in 2002.HE SAID ITYou want to get to a bowl game. You dont want these two weeks to be your last two weeks of the season. I mean, we went through a lot together on this team, Mahomes said.---More college football at www.collegefootball.ap.org Air Max 97 Italia . With their top three point guards and Kobe Bryant all sidelined by injury, the Lakers signed Marshall out of the D-League on Friday before their home game against Minnesota. Air Max 270 Economiche . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. http://www.airmaxshoponlineitalia.it/scontate-max-720-outlet.html .Y. - Free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, fresh off winning the World Series with Boston, reached agreement with the rival New York Yankees on a seven-year contract worth about $153 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday night. Air Max 720 Outlet . DAmigo scored twice in regulation and added the shootout winner as the Toronto Marlies edged the San Antonio Rampage 5-4 in American Hockey League action. Scarpe Air Max Plus In Offerta .Y. -- Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo had little trouble picking up his first shutout of the season against a Buffalo Sabres team thats having trouble scoring goals. OXFORD, Miss. -- Mississippi coach Andy Kennedy shook his head slowly in the post game press conference, uncertain whether to be relieved or bewildered.The Rebels defeated UT Martin 86-83 in the season opener for both clubs in a game that featured 53 fouls, 61 free throws, 41 turnovers and two potential game-tying shots by the Skyhawks in the final five seconds.The thing that bothers me the most are the turnovers, said Kennedy, whose club accounted for 24, including a pair in the final 10 seconds. One thing weve been very good at doing in my time here is we havent turned the ball over. But we were so careless tonight and its maddening.Deandre Burnett proved to be the decisive factor with 23 points, including two free throws with 9.5 seconds remaining for the final margin. Terence Davis scored 19 points, Rasheed Brooks had 12 and Cullen Neal added 10 to lead a balanced offensive attack.Theres no question that he is going to make them, said Kennedy about Burnett, who finished 10 of 10 from the charity stripe. Hes got other areas where hes got to improve, but he makes big shots. This was a good win against a team thats going to win a lot of ballgames.Matthew Butler led UT Martin (0-1) with 25 points, including three 3-pointers in the final three minutes that wiped out a 76-66 Ole Miss lead. Jacolby Mobley scored 17 points, while Kedar Edwards and Javier Martinez added 11 points apiece.I was proud of our effort and how we kept chipping aaway and fighting in the second half after putting ourselves behind the eight ball, UT Martin coach Anthony Stewart said.dddddddddddd At the end, we got the looks we wanted. No question we played hard.BIG PICTUREUT Martin: Despite the loss in Stewarts head coaching debut, the uptempo Skyhawks forced 24 turnovers and led by as many as nine points late in the first half. UT Martin was 12 of 33, 36.4 percent, from 3-point range, including 7 of 14 by Butler.Ole Miss: The Rebels proved they could win despite a limited performance from veteran forward Sebastian Saiz, who fouled out with 8:29 left. The returning leading scorer and rebounder from last season managed only five points and three rebounds. No bones about it. Hes the anchor of this team and he was a no show tonight, Kennedy said. I know it was fouls, but I told him and he knows that he cant be a no show.TURNING POINTTrailing 42-33, Ole Miss had a 14-0 run that spanned the final two minutes of the first half and the opening three minutes of the second half. Neals 3-point shot capped the surge, giving the Rebels a 47-42 lead they never surrendered despite the late surge by UT Martin.UP NEXTUT Martin: The Skyhawks have a quick turnaround, heading home to play Rio Grande Valley on Sunday.Ole Miss: The Rebels host Massachusetts of the Atlantic 10 on Monday. ' ' '
