By Wendell Barnhouse
Big 12 Sports.com Correspondent

A daily countdown previewing the upcoming college football season continues. Today: Texas Tech Red Raiders.

2007: 9-4 overall, 4-4 in South Division, 4th.
Bowl game: Defeated Virginia, 31-28, in Gator Bowl.
Coach: Mike Leach, 65-37, ninth season.
Returning starters: 10 offense, 8 defense.
Staff changes: Both coordinators are different than last year. Lyle Setenich was replaced last October by Ruffin McNeill. Offensive coordinator/inside receivers coach Dale Holgorsen left after the season. Leach, who will handle more offensive coordinating duites, hired Dennis Simmons to coach receivers and Clay McGuire as special teams coach.

Offensive outlook: Awesome. Outstanding. Unlimited. Pick a word, a description. The Red Raiders return 10 starters from a unit that averaged 41 points and 530 yards in total offense. Senior quarterback Graham Harrell should finish with similar numbers as last season (5,705 yards and 48 touchdowns). Michael Crabtree won the Biletnikof Award last season as a redshirt freshman. If the defenses gang up on him, there are several other playmakers at wide receiver and running back. The offensive line is deep and talented.

Defensive outlook: Not as rosey as the offense but it's improving. Texas Tech got better last season after Ruffin McNeill took over as coordinator midway through the 2007 season. The Red Raiders' defense doesn't have to pitch shutouts. It does need to keep opponents from running the ball and dominating the time of possession. Tech's offense can't score when it's on the bench. McNeill stresses an attacking style. If that results in turnovers instead of big plays by the other team, Tech's defense might be good enough to produce a South Division title.

Player on the spot: Senior running back Shannon Woods. With all the noise about Tech's passing prowess, the Red Raiders need a dependable runner. Woods has a wonderful season as a sophomore in 2006 but spent most of last season in Leach's dog house. He's a solid runner and excellent receiver. If he returns to his sophomore production, Tech opponents will have one more thing to worry about.

Player on the rise: Senior Eric Morris. At 5-8, 174 pounds, this speedy wide receiver is nicknamed the "Elf." His stature reminds of Wes Welker and Danny Amendola, two inside receivers who thrived in Leach's four-wid offense. Morris also might get the ball while lined up at running back or quarterback in the shotgun.

Number of note: Six quarterbacks in NCAA Division I-A history have topped 5,000 yards passing. Three played at Texas Tech _ Graham Harrell (5,705 last season), B.J. Symons (5,833 in 2003, the single-season record) and Kliff Kingsbury (5,017 in 2002).

Date book: The non-conference schedule should produce a 4-0 start. The only game worth worrying about is the trip to Nevada on Sept. 6. Three of the first four Big 12 games are on the road _ Kansas State, Texas A&M, Kansas. Two games in November should decide the Red Raiders' fate in conference play. Tech plays host to Texas on Nov. 1 and three weeks later plays at Oklahoma. The Red Raiders' last victory in Norman came in 1996.

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