Six wins and counting! The 6-3 Texas Tech Red Raiders are set to clash with the 6-2 Colorado Buffaloes this weekend. A matchup that, on paper, might seem like a regular Saturday afternoon affair. But, let’s be real, this is not your average college football game. Whenever Coach Sanders and the Buffaloes play, it’s always fireworks and drama. With Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter leading the charge for the Colorado Buffs, Texas Tech’s got a real firestorm on their hands.

Now, Chris Level, the savvy Texas Tech insider, has dropped some serious truth bombs about how the Red Raiders need to approach this game. According to Level, Texas Tech can’t afford to give Shedeur Sanders any room to breathe and feel comfortable. “You can’t have a Plan B,” Level warned. “You’ve gotta make Shedeur feel uncomfortable. If you give him time, you’re playing with fire.” Well, it’s a bold statement, but Level’s not wrong.

Sanders, a highly skilled quarterback, has been blasting up the field all season with his arm talent and playmaking ability. If you decide to 2-man pressure rush, Shedeur can escape the pocket with his quick feet and awareness and then possibly make a run for the first down or throw the ball for completion. Shedeur has an incredible stat of 2,591 yards and 21 touchdowns, along with only 6 interceptions. By the looks of it, he won’t be stopping anytime soon.

And the two-way phenom Travis Hunter, a potential Heisman winner, at least to some analysts, has been a force on both sides of the ball. Even Level added that “no lead is safe with Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter and Horn and everybody they’ve got.” Especially #2 and #12 form a dynamic duo that has the potential to torch Texas Tech at Jones AT&T Stadium.

Texas Tech will need to bring their A-game to slow down this high-powered offense. They’ll need to pressure Sanders, force turnovers, and limit big plays. It’s a tall order, but it’s not impossible or anything.

The X-Factor: The Red Raiders defense

Texas Tech’s defense will be crucial in this matchup. They’ll need to be disciplined, unlike the Baylor game, where the Baylor Bears dropped 59 points on the Red Raiders on 20th October. They’ll need to stop the run, pressure the passer, and make the plays in the secondary.

The Red Raiders’ defensive line will need to generate pressure on Sanders. ” You just have to make him feel uncomfortable, and maybe he throws it to you once or twice,” said Level. If they can force him to make mistakes, it could be a long afternoon for the Colorado offense. A strong pass rush can disrupt the timing, forcing errant throws that even lead to sacks and turnovers. The defensive line will need to use a variety of techniques, including bull rushes, speed rushes, and stunts, to keep Sanders off balance. Despite doing all this successfully, there’s no promise that Shedeur and the Buffs will go down easily.

The Red Raiders’ linebackers will also play a crucial role in this matchup. They’ll need to be sound in coverage and effective in run support. In other words, they must sack Shedeur as much as possible and disrupt the run game. The secondary will have a tough time keeping up with Colorado’s Buffaloes‘ talented receiving corps. They’ll need to play like cornerback, not like a sprinter running behind the Buffs wide receivers. Seems like there’s no way they are going to win this matchup unless the Red Raiders offense steps up.

This game will expose either one of the teams. Trust me, you don’t want to be labeled as a “social media team” after having a pretty good season. If the Red Raiders decide to stand and sling against the Buffs, this isn’t gonna end well for them. But hey, it’s college football. And one thing here is, you can expect one upset every weekend for sure.