Kliff Kingsbury is known as one of the more player-friendly coaches in America. It's only a matter of time until he makes the Texas Tech Red Raiders a legitimate force in the Big XII, and with an NFL-ready quarterback under center, you never know if this is going to be the year that happens.
Texas Tech Red Raiders Regular Season Win Total Odds at BookMaker.eu
Texas Tech Over 6.5 Wins ( -210 )
Texas Tech Under 6.5 Wins ( +160 )
The biggest sin for Patrick Mahomes this year is that he really doesn't have a ton of proven help around him. Four of his five starters from a year ago along the offensive line are gone, and the team's two best playmakers, Jakeem Grant and DeAndre Washington have both graduated as well.
That said, Mahomes could end up being a real difference-maker. He threw for 4,653 yards and 36 TDs last year, and with this being his third year as a starting quarterback, he could end up making some big strides and putting up massive numbers like Kingsbury did when he was coached up by Mike Leach in this wild offense.
What has to improve is the team's defense. The club ranked No. 127 in the land in total defense and No. 125 in scoring defense, and that isn't going to cut it. The good news though, is that the four men who started last year at times as freshmen are now sophomores, and that's when the most appreciable gains tend to be made.
2016 Texas Tech Red Raiders Football Schedule
September 3 – vs. Stephen F. Austin
September 10 – at Arizona State
September 17 – vs. Louisiana Tech
September 29 – vs. Kansas
October 8 – at Kansas State
October 15 – vs. West Virginia
October 22 – vs. Oklahoma
October 29 – at TCU
November 5 – vs. Texas
November 12 – at Oklahoma State
November 19 – at Iowa State
November 25 – vs. Baylor (in Arlington)
The Big XII is tough. No two ways around it. As a result, the Red Raiders are going to have to go up against TCU and Oklahoma State on the road and West Virginia, Oklahoma and Texas at home along with a neutral site game against Baylor to end the regular season.
The Red Raiders did themselves no favors by scheduling a non-conference game against Arizona State, though that will surely prove to be a good litmus test for the duels to come in the Big XII.
QUICK PICK
This is a tough schedule, and that's why the oddsmakers are down on the Red Raiders. Surely, if you just go under the assumption that the chalk is going to hold up in every game, this is a 6-6 team. But the chalk doesn't hold up all the time, and teams get whipped in Lubbock when they're favored to walk out victorious all the time.
It's a little scary to bet on a team which is so inexperienced, but the great equalizer is having a veteran quarterback in the huddle who can direct traffic and start to build some confidence. So long as Mahomes continues his torrid pace, there's no reason this won't end up being one of the best 10 or 15 offenses in the nation. Scoring 40+ points game in and game out will make the Red Raiders tough to beat, even if they do have to continue to win score fest after score fest.
Because of Mahomes, we're buying the Red Raiders. Just know that if anything happens to him before the Big XII schedule starts, this won't be a team which will be playing in December in a bowl game.
College Football Odds: Texas Tech Red Raiders Over 6.5 Wins
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