Preview: New Mexico Lobos at Texas Tech Red Raiders

Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville built an easy schedule to give his team some confidence heading into a tough Big 12 schedule. (US Presswire)

New Mexico (1-1, 0-0 MWC) at Texas Tech (2-0, 0-0 Big 12)

Kickoff: Saturday, 7 p.m. ET (FCS)

Spread: Texas Tech by 33.5

Watchability: Last week, New Mexico lost 45-0 to Texas. The Red Raiders are a sure bet to win in a blowout again.

Shining stars: Texas Tech: Seth Doege. Doege was an efficient 25 of 32 for 319 yards and five TDs against Texas State. The Lobos allowed UT's quarterbacks to throw for 285 yards last week. The Longhorns are not known as a prolific passing team, so look for Doege to put up even bigger numbers. New Mexico: Cole Gautsche. The true freshman quarterback is the Lobos' leading rusher with 123 yards out of the option attack. He has not been a threat to throw, going 1 of 6 with an interception.

Who could steal the show: Texas Tech: WR Javon Bell. The junior college transfer caught a team-high five passes for 81 yards and a touchdown in his debut last week. Bell has blazing speed and has regularly found the end zone in his career, catching 27 touchdowns in his two years at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. New Mexico: Matt Raymer. The former walk-on safety has been the Lobos best defender in 2012. He has a forced fumble and leads the team with 9.5 tackles, including two for a loss.

You going? Ranking the road trip: The team picked to finished last in the Mountain West won one game last season and lost 59-13 at home to Texas Tech in 2011. Unless you want to be guaranteed to see a win in Lubbock -- the Red Raiders will likely be underdogs at home in every Big 12 game except against Kansas -- this one might be better to catch on TV.

Magic number for Texas Tech: 71. Texas Tech ranks 17th in the nation in rush defense, holding opponents to 71 yards per game. Last year, the Red Raiders ranked last. New Mexico will run the ball nearly every down, so the Red Raiders' run defense will receive another test Saturday.

Magic number for New Mexico: 28. That's the most points the Lobos have scored against a BCS conference team in the last four years, and that came in a 48-28 loss at Texas Tech in 2009. The Lobos don't have much of a chance to win, so scoring 28 would at least be a moral victory.

This game comes down to: Run defense. It's obvious that Texas Tech will win and likely win big. The Red Raiders need to continue to build confidence on defense, and stopping an option attack would be another sign that the unit has improved.

Prediction: Texas Tech 52, New Mexico 10

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Big 12 bloggers C.J. Moore and Patrick Southern, follow @CBSSportsBig12 on Twitter. You can also follow C.J. (@cjmoore4) and Patrick (@patricksouthern) as well.