Blake Bell Oklahoma
Sooners quarterback Blake Bell meets Texas Tech and the third-best pass rush in the Big-12 on Saturday. Reuters

The No. 17 Oklahoma Sooners can climb back into the Big-12 race as they host No. 10 Texas Tech on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.

The undefeated Red Raiders are knotted atop the conference standings with No. 6 Baylor, and the Sooners have the chance to sour both perfect records in consecutive weeks. Next week Oklahoma makes the trip to Floyd Casey Stadium, but first must contain the nation’s second best passing attack in Texas Tech.

The Sooners are ninth in the country in points allowed per contest (17.1), first in the Big-12 in total defense (293.4 yards) and pass defense with 149.7 yards a game and five total touchdowns this season. Oklahoma hasn’t given up more than 21 points in a single game, and held Kansas last week to 16 total passing yards in a 34-19 victory.

Junior quarterback Blake Bell went 15-for-25 for 131 yards and two touchdowns to receiver Sterling Shepard, and the Sooners scored on four straight possessions between the second and third quarters.

Texas Tech continued to ride roughshod through the conference last week in a 37-27 victory over West Virginia, with freshman quarterback David Webb passing for 462 yards and two touchdowns, and receivers Jace Amaro and Bradley Marquez combined for 17 catches for 248 yards and both scores.

It was the second straight 400-yard passing game for Webb since taking over for injured fellow freshman Baker Mayfield, and junior running back Kenny Williams also tallied 58 yards and two touchdowns.

Tech first-year head coach Kliff Kingsbury hasn’t officially named a starter for Saturday’s matchup, but both his young quarterbacks appear capable of thwarting the Sooners.

This game could come down to who has the better pass rush. Senior linebacker Will Smith leads the Red Raiders with 3.5 sacks, and overall the team is third in the Big-12 with 18 total sacks. The Sooners have tallied 11.0 sacks, with 4.5 coming from sophomore defensive end Charles Tapper, but the offensive line has surrendered 12.0 sacks.

Point Spread: Oklahoma is favored by 7 points.

Over/Under: 59 points

Kickoff Time: 3:30 PM Eastern Time

TV Channel: FOX

Prediction: Texas Tech 38, Oklahoma 27