SOUTHWEST ROUNDUP : Texas Tech Wins, Eyes Bowl Bid

Texas Tech is making a last-ditch pitch for a bowl bid.

The Red Raiders turned two second-half turnovers into touchdowns, including a 99-yard fumble return by Donny Brooks, and upset No. 20 Baylor, 31-24, Saturday in a driving rainstorm at Waco, Tex.

Baylor, 7-3 overall and 4-3 in the Southwest Conference (all three losses coming at home), will probably accept an invitation to the Copper Bowl in Tucson.

But Texas Tech Coach Spike Dykes said the Red Raiders (5-5, 4-3) should not be overlooked. “I imagine the bowls are wide open,” Dykes said. “It’s a $250,000 fine if you make deals early? They can’t talk to anybody until (today).”

Brooks’ fumble return was the decisive play in Tech’s victory. It came as Baylor threatened to tie the score at 24-24. Instead, the Raiders went up by 14 points.

“It was one of those big plays that happens every once in a while,” Dykes said. “It was a great run by Donny.”

No. 13 Texas A&M; 13, Arkansas 3--Quarterback Bucky Richardson carried four Arkansas players across the goal from four yards out on a third-quarter touchdown run to give the Aggies a victory over the Razorbacks at College Station, Tex.

The Aggies (8-1, 6-0) clinched at least a tie for the SWC title and can clinch the title outright with a victory over SMU next Saturday at College Station.

By winning the title, Texas A&M; will go to the Cotton Bowl and probably play Florida State.

Arkansas (5-5, 4-3) is expected to get a bid to the Independence Bowl if it can defeat Rice next Saturday. The Razorbacks would probably play Georgia.

Texas 32, TCU 0--Butch Hadnot ran 52 yards for a touchdown and quarterback Peter Gardere set a school career passing yardage record as the Longhorns (5-4, 4-2) shut out the Texas Christian (6-4, 3-4) at Austin, Tex.

Gardere, a junior, completed 10 of 15 passes for 124 yards, setting a Texas career yardage record of 4,790. The old mark of 4,735 was set by Bret Stafford in 1987.

Houston 41, Rice 21--After sitting out the first quarter with a side injury, David Klingler threw five touchdown passes to rally the Cougars (4-5, 3-3) over the Owls (4-6, 2-5) at Houston.