Oklahoma State travels to Lubbock, Texas to face the Texas Tech Red Raiders in a game that has Big 12 South standings and bowl placement implications. To get the lowdown on the game from a Tech perspective, we hit RedRaiderSports.com managing editor Aaron Dickens with five questions about the Red Raiders and Saturday's game.

1. Is there any lingering effect from last season's Oklahoma State upset in Stillwater? Any so-called "revenge factor" for Texas Tech here?

Yes and no. While this weekend's game against the Cowboys is not one that the Red Raiders have had circled on their calendars for the past year, everyone remembers last year's embarrassing loss in Stillwater. Still, I think that last year's game will be used by Mike Leach and his staff more as a reminder to not take anything for granted than any type of 'out for vengeance' motivational tool.

Perhaps it would be different if there was some sort of controversy surrounding last year's game but, let's be frank, there was none of that. Texas Tech, a more than three score favorite, did not come ready to play last November, got punched in the mouth (so to speak) and did not recover offensively.

Considering that Saturday is the last home game for seniors Jarrett Hicks, Joel Filani, Keyunta Dawson and a score of others, not to mention the game's bowl implications, the Red Raiders have reason enough to be motivated without manufacturing an artificial desire for revenge.

2. The Tech defense lost some quality players like Dwayne Slay to graduation. Talk a little about how the defense has developed this season.

Many, many weeks ago, in a similar feature for AggieWebsider.com, I wrote that the "unquestioned strength" of the Tech defense was the defensive line. I cited how, aside from the puzzling meltdown against UTEP, Lyle Setencich's crew had performed "pretty well," having only allowed one rushing touchdown all season.

Call me crazy (or stupid), but even after allowing Texas to pile up 227 yards on the ground, I am still of the opinion that the front four is the defense's strongest point.

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