LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Robert Griffin lll is a man synonymous with the Bowl Championship Series era of college football.<\/p>\n
His four years at Baylor ended with a Heisman trophy in 2011. Having scored 11 total touchdowns in three all-time meetings against the Red Raiders, Griffin said this year\u2019s team is completely different, starting with the defense.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause of what they can do in the trenches,\u201d Griffin said, \u201cI think that gives them the best chance to win a national championship, and right now, they\u2019re my pick to win the natty. <\/p>\n
Griffin went on to praise the guys that hold down the fort on that side of the ball.<\/p>\n
\u201d(David) Bailey on the outside, Romello Height, I think they\u2019re the best pass rush in the entire country,” Griffin said. \u201cThen you throw Lee Hunter in the center of the defense with all the guys they rotate there. You got Jacob Rodriguez, goes without saying, best linebacker in the country, and Ben Roberts. I think the secondary is (also) under appreciated for what they\u2019ve been able to accomplish throughout the year.\u201d <\/p>\n
With the defense\u2019s success comes the chance for the offense to stand out in its own way.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt allows the offense (to open up) with Behren Morton and Cameron Dickey, J\u2019Koby Williams, Reggie Virgil, Caleb Douglas, not even talking about Carter at tight end,\u201d Griffin said. \u201cThese guys can win in so many different ways.\u201d<\/p>\n
Texas Tech will play the winner of James Madison University and Oregon in the Orange Bowl Jan. 1, a game between the Sun Belt Conference champion and a Big 10 powerhouse.<\/p>\n
\u201cJMU, high-flying, wide-open offense, that gives them a puncher\u2019s chance to go out and be effective against Oregon,\u201d Griffin said. \u201cI think Oregon\u2019s personnel will overwhelm JMU when it\u2019s all said and done, and so it will be Oregon versus Texas Tech.\u201d<\/p>\n
With Griffin picking Oregon over JMU, there\u2019s two things that have him excited about a potential matchup between the Ducks and the Red Raiders.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know if there\u2019s a faster team in the country than Oregon, at every position,\u201d Griffin said. \u201cI\u2019m going to be watching the offensive lines, I\u2019m going to be honest with you, that\u2019s where my eyes are going to go. If I\u2019m at home, I\u2019m watching the o-line. How are you gonna block Matayo Uiagalelei? How are you gonna block David Bailey and Romello Height?<\/p>\n
Griffin said the biggest key to a potential national championship run for Texas Tech is to stay hungry. He believes BYU was punished for losing its conference championship, while Alabama was not, and that could spark a fire for tech to represent the Big 12 Conference in a big way.<\/p>\n
With a playoff run on the horizon, Griffin said the red and black can contend with anyone and can\u2019t wait for all the madness the College Football Playoff has to offer.<\/p>\n
\u201cBe Michael Jordan,\u201d Griffin said. \u201cMichael Jordan would find something every game and say they\u2019re disrespecting me. I think coach McGuire\u2019s got them, he\u2019ll have them ready to roll. I know him very well from his time at Baylor and Cedar Hill and Texas high school football. I think he\u2019ll have them ready to go, they\u2019re going to find that chip and then they got to make sure they just go be it.\u201d<\/p>\n
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