The Texas Tech Red Raiders are off to a fast start this season, and they’ll be looking to improve to 4-0 when they face the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas at 12:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, September 25.
The Longhorns have already suffered a loss this season but appear to be somewhat rejuvenated with Casey Thompson now their starting quarterback.
Will the Red Raiders roll into enemy territory and beat their cross-town rival? Find out in our Texas Tech vs. Texas picks and predictions.
Texas Tech vs Texas odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
Texas was favored by 10.5 points when this line first became available, but Texas Tech is now getting as few as 7.5 points, depending on where you look. Meanwhile, the total opened at 61.0 for this one, and it’s currently hovering between 60.5 and 61.5.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until kickoff and be sure to check out the full college football odds before placing your bets.
Texas Tech vs Texas picks
Picks made on 9/22/2021 at 7:20 p.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
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Texas Tech vs Texas game info
• Location: Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, TX
• Date: Saturday, September 25, 2021
• Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
• TV: ABC
Texas Tech vs Texas betting preview
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our NCAA football weather info.
Key injuries
Texas Tech: No injuries to report.
Texas: Troy Omeire WR (out), Jahdae Barron DB (out), Ishmael Ibraheem DB (out), Brayden Liebrock TE (out), Jaden Alexis WR (out)
Find our latest NCAA football injury reports.
Betting trend to know
Red Raiders are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games following a straight-up win. Find more NCAA betting trends for Texas Tech vs. Texas.
Texas Tech vs Texas predictions
Texas Tech +8.5 (-112)
Texas Tech covered in last year’s 63-56 loss to Texas, as the Red Raiders were 17-point underdogs in that game. It was the first time since 2017 that Texas Tech was able to cover in this head-to-head series, and that step in the right direction is significant when considering where these teams are now. After a 54-21 victory over the Florida International Panthers last week, the Red Raiders are now 3-0 on the season — with one of those victories being over a solid Houston Cougars team. For the first time since Matt Wells took over as the head coach in Lubbock, the Red Raiders look like they’re good enough to play in a bowl game.
Through three games this season, Texas Tech is tied for sixth in the nation in rushing yards allowed per game, with the team giving up just 54.7. That’s going to be crucial against a Texas team that has one of the best running backs in the country in Bijan Robinson. The Longhorns are currently ranked 15th in college football in rushing yards per game, but they haven’t faced a defense quite as good as the Red Raiders. This Texas Tech front is more than capable of keeping Robinson in check, and that will ultimately make a massive difference here. Casey Thompson is a capable quarterback for Texas, but with him under center, the passing game won’t be explosive enough for the Longhorns to run away with wins over teams that are good in the trenches.
Offensively, the Red Raiders have what it takes to give the Longhorns trouble. Texas Tech leaned on its running game in its first two wins of the year, with Tahj Brooks rushing for 237 yards and four touchdowns in those victories. Brooks should be in for a big game against a Texas defense that gave up 333 yards on the ground against the Arkansas Razorbacks. However, it’s the development of Tyler Shough that is the true reason you’ll want to back the Red Raiders in this game.
After subpar performances in the first two games of the year, Shough threw for 399 yards with four touchdowns and no picks in the win over Florida International. Shough was once considered a big-time NFL prospect at the quarterback position, and he’s starting to get comfortable in this Texas Tech offense. If the Longhorns key in on the run too much, Shough will make them pay. With that in mind, it’s hard to envision the Longhorns winning by more than a touchdown in this game. And it wouldn’t be all that shocking if the Red Raiders pull off the upset.
Over 60.5 (-115)
Texas is coming off of back-to-back Overs and the game against the Louisiana Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns in Week 1 just missed on hitting the number (58.5), with the teams combining to score 56 points. With the Longhorns wanting to play with pace, there’s an opportunity for most of their games to be extremely high-scoring. This game is no exception, with the Red Raiders being capable of putting up big numbers and also being somewhat vulnerable in the secondary.
Each of the last three meetings between these teams have gone Over the total, with the two combining to score 89.0 points per game in those contests. Also, Texas Tech’s last nine games against teams averaging more than 31.0 points per game have gone Over.
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