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The Texas Longhorns are going bowling for the first time since 2014. Texas went into Morgantown and upset West Virginia as a short underdog last week in order to get that precious sixth win. The win also guaranteed the Longhorns a winning record in Big 12 play for the first time in the last three years. Now, the Longhorns can guarantee themselves their first winning season since 2013 if they beat the Texas Tech Red Raiders. That’s easier said than done though as Texas Tech has played most opponents tough this year and is also looking to become bowl eligible with a win.
Watch this regular season Week 13 matchup live on Friday, November 24, 2017, at 8 p.m. ET at Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. This game will be broadcast on FOX.
College Football Opening Odds at BookMaker.eu
Texas Tech +10
Texas -10
Over/Under 55
Odds Analysis
Texas has been one of the best teams to bet on all season long. The Longhorns are an impressive 8-3 ATS and have been very competitive in Tom Herman’s first year on the job in Austin. Maryland and TCU were the only two teams that beat Texas by more than a score and that has made Texas fans optimistic for the future under Herman. This defense has been solid too and that has led to the under going 8-3 as well in Longhorns games.
The Red Raiders must be disappointed that they might not make a bowl after going 3-0 in non-conference play with wins over two bowl eligible teams and a 4-1 start. Texas Tech covered its first five games of the season, but a defensive letdown over the latter half of the season has really hurt bettors. Kliff Kingsbury’s crew is just 1-5 ATS over their past six games.
This spread has barely moved since it opened. Texas opened as a 10.5-point favorite and it only dropped a tick. The Longhorns are 3-1 ATS when favored by 10 or more points.
Player to Watch
In Air Raid offenses, the quarterback takes center stage and it’s no different with Texas Tech. Nic Shimonek had the unenviable task of replacing the best quarterback in program history after Pat Mahomes II departed following his junior season.
Shimonek has been just fine in his stead. He has already surpassed 3,400 yards on the season and has a 28-8 touchdown-to-interception ratio to boot. He has found a favorite target in Keke Coutee who has been very good this season. Coutee is over 1,000 receiving yards and has found the end zone nine times too.
He will be looking to exploit a Longhorns defense that hasn’t always been the best against the pass. Texas is outside of the top 100 in terms of pass defense and gave up big plays to Kansas through the air two weeks ago.
Key Stat
Although the Red Raiders defense looked like it was going to turn a corner at the start of the season, that has not been the case recently. Texas Tech is outside of the top 100 in total defense and in the bottom 10 in pass defense in the country. The Red Raiders are allowing 438 yards per game and were toasted by every decent offense in the conference.
Texas’ offense will be looking forward to taking them off after some middling performances of their own over the last few weeks.
Free ATS Pick
I’m a little surprised to see a total of just 55 in this game. It’s the second-lowest total for a Texas Tech game this season and the only reason it isn’t the lowest is because TCU’s Kenny Hill was injured for its tilt against the Longhorns that week.
Although the Longhorns don’t typically score a lot of points, I think they do this week in a relatively high scoring affair.
College Football Odds: Texas 38, Texas Tech 31
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