After three straight weeks, enjoying the comforts of home, the Texas Tech football team is finally headed out on the road again in what could be a pivotal Big 12 Conference matchup on Saturday (10 p.m. CT, FOX).

The Red Raiders (4-1, 2-0) will put their three-game winning streak on the line when they head to Tucson to take on the Arizona Wildcats (3-1, 1-0) in Arizona Stadium. It's not hard to see that the Wildcats have had tougher competition to start the year as this will be the biggest test of the year for head coach Joey McGuire's team to close the first half of the regular season.

Not only will this be tough because of the competition, it has added importance for how bad the Red Raiders have been on the road in McGuire's tenure. Texas Tech is 3-9 on the road since the start of the 2021 season. If Texas Tech wants to be seriously considered for the conference championship, it'll involve winning games on the road against much better teams than it has seen so far.

Here's how the game breaks down in all three phases.

When Texas Tech football runs the ball

It's all about Tahj Brooks and his pursuit of the Red Raiders all-time rushing record. He sits 616 yards away from that mark and is averaging 137 yards per game on his own. That should be enough to go against a Wildcat defense allowing more than 154 yards per game on the ground. It's been a bit of a mixed bag for Arizona in this regard. New Mexico and Kansas State combined for 445 yards in Weeks 1 and 3 while in Weeks 2 and 5, Northern Arizona and Utah combined for 173 yards, which Brooks essentially ran for himself last week against Cincinnati. The Bearcats entered last week's contest only giving up 138 yards per game on the ground.

Advantage: Texas Tech

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When Arizona football runs the ball

Quali Conley is the lead back for the Wildcats, having generated 322 yards and four touchdowns on 55 rush attempts so far this season. Much like Texas Tech, Arizona doesn't go too deep in the running back depth chart, though the Red Raiders could see Kedrick Reescano (147 yards) and Jacory Crosky-Merritt (106). The last two opponents have said postgame they had their worst offensive line performances in the run game against the Red Raiders. That's not a coincidence. Texas Tech has been able to wrangle several talented running backs this season, only really getting hurt in the quarterback run game, which isn't much of an issue with Arizona.

Advantage: Texas Tech

When Texas Tech passes the ball

Another area where consistency hasn't been a strength for Arizona. On the season, opponents are averaging 201 yards through the air on the Wildcats with Utah, a run-heavy team, compiling 280 yards. New Mexico put up 39 points thanks to 260 yards through the air in the season opener. Texas Tech has one of the top aerial attacks in the country. Behren Morton ranks 12th in the country in passing yards (1,426) and Texas Tech has the best passing offense in the conference. Josh Kelly (39 catches for 487 yards) ranks 12th in yards and is eighth in receptions per game (7.8). Genesis Smith has two interceptions on the year for Arizona, while Morton has gone three straight games (all at home) without throwing a pick.

Advantage: Texas Tech

When Arizona football passes the ball

In short, Texas Tech has not been very good at defending the pass (ranking 131st out of 133 in the FBS) and most of this week's availability report is filled with defensive backs nursing injuries. That's bad news going against an Arizona team that features a lethal combination with quarterback Noah Fifita tossing it up to Tetairoa McMillan. Over 35% of Fifita's 82 completions and 47% of his passing yards have gone to McMillian (29 catches, 503 yards). Two teams have been able to corral McMillan this year with Northern Arizona and Utah holding him to a combined eight catches for 61 yards. It should be noted over 60% of McMillan's yards (304) and all of his receiving touchdowns (four) came Week 1 against New Mexico. Still, Tech hasn't exactly defended the pass well, and it seems unlikely they'll have the answer for McMillan.

Advantage: Arizona

More: Texas Tech football secondary most present on latest injury report ahead of Arizona game

Texas Tech vs. Arizona: The specialists

The Red Raiders have yet to miss a field goal while splitting reps between Gino Garcia and Reese Burkhardt. Jack Burgess has been getting less punting opportunities at home with the offense rolling, but he's averaging 43 yards per punt. Arizona has used three guys to punt this season, though Micahel Salgado-Medina got the most recent work, totaling 187 yards on four punts against Utah. Tyler Loop is 7-of-9 on field goals this year, converting five of his six attempts from beyond 40 yards.

Advantage: Arizona

Score prediction: Arizona 40, Texas Tech 35

Bottom line: The numbers say that Texas Tech might have a better shot here than some may think. But the Red Raiders have failed in the area where Arizona excels the most, and have been brutal on the road in Joey McGuire's tenure. It'll take a major 180 in both areas to pull off the road win, so give me the Wildcats in a shootout.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Can Texas Tech football pick up a crucial road win at Arizona?