The Kansas State Wildcats and Texas Tech Red Raiders will go at it on the turf at Jones AT&T Stadium. The opening kickoff for this game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET and you can view the action live on FS1.
Betting Preview: Kansas State Wildcats vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders
In this Saturday Big 12 game, Texas Tech is projected as the favorite and is currently giving up 3 points. The Wildcats are also receiving +120 moneyline odds while the Red Raiders are -140. This Big 12 tilt should provide several decent in-game betting scenarios, and Vegas has determined the over/under (O/U) to be 55 points.
With the spread opening at 1.5 and the over/under initially set at 54.5, oddsmakers have moved this game’s outlook a hair.
The Wildcats have lost 5.2 units so far and are 7-3 against the spread (ATS). They’ve been a good under bet and have posted an O/U record of 3-7.
The Red Raiders are down 3.2 units this season. The team is 5-4-1 ATS and owns an O/U record of 6-4.
The Wildcats are 6-4 straight up (SU), including 3-4 SU against conference opponents. The Red Raiders are 4-6 SU overall and are also 2-5 SU in conference play.
The Wildcats dropped one to West Virginia 24-20 in a game where the defense did its part in the loss, limiting the Mountaineers to just 234 passing yards and 85 rushing yards. George Campbell had a productive day for the Mountaineers in that one with 92 yards and two touchdowns on five catches. On the offensive side of the ball, Skylar Thompson completed 24 passes for 299 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Jordon Brown (five receptions, 32 yards) and Phillip Brooks (four catches, 63 yards) shared the receiving duties.
A week ago, TCU got the win against this Texas Tech crew by a score of 33-31. The Red Raiders defense allowed the Horned Frogs to pass for 323 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 226 yards. Taye Barber had a good outing in the win, posting 137 yards on eight catches for TCU. For Texas Tech, Jett Duffey completed 19-of-33 passes for 333 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Duffey (42 rushing yards on nine attempts) mounted the ground game in the defeat while Erik Ezukanma (four receptions, 91 yards, one TD) and Dalton Rigdon (four catches, 75 yards, one TD) led the Texas Tech pass-catchers.
Kansas State has run the ball on 63.1 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 59.1 percent across possessions in conference play. Texas Tech has an overall run percentage of 45.2 percent, and has rushed the ball 48.9 percent of the time against Big 12 opponents. The Wildcats have produced 191.1 rush yards/game (including 153 per game versus Big 12 opponents) and have 26 scores via handoffs this year. The Red Raiders are putting up 158 rush yards per game (154 in conference) and have 18 total rushing TDs.
If 2019 results are any indication, then it’s looking like the Red Raiders should have the advantage in the trenches. Their offensive line has given up just 12 sacks while their D-line has logged 22 sacks. The Wildcats O-line has given up 19 sacks and their defense has created only 18 sacks.
The Wildcats offense has logged 192.5 yards/game in the air overall (200.3 per game versus conference opposition) and has 10 passing scores so far. The Red Raiders have produced 312.9 pass yards per game (301 in the Big 12) and have 20 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Kansas State seems to have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 163.3 yards and throw for 198.7 yards per game. The Texas Tech defense has allowed 310 yards per game to opposing passers and 168.2 yards per game to opposing runners. The Wildcats are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 5.76 to opposing QBs, while the Red Raiders have given up a 7.36 ANY/A.
Offensively, Thompson has put up 1,635 passing yards this season, and has completed 131-of-216 attempts with eight scores through the air and three interceptions. He has a 6.83 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 6.93 over the last two games.
Look for Thompson to distribute the football early and often in this one. Dalton Schoen (189 receiving yards and four touchdowns), Malik Knowles (256 yards, two TDs) and Phillip Brooks (189 yards) have all been heavily involved recently.
On the other sideline, Jett Duffey has completed 151-of-226 passes for 1,753 yards, 13 TDs and three INTs. Duffey’s ANY/A sits at 7.72 for the year and 10.84 over his past two games.
Duffey and Texas Tech also like to distribute the ball all around the secondary, as Dalton Rigdon, RJ Turner and Erik Ezukanma have collectively recorded 506 receiving yards and five scores over the last couple of games.
When these two squads met a year ago, Kansas State earned the win 21-6.
Kansas State Wildcats at Texas Tech Red Raiders NCAA Pick
SU Winner: Texas Tech, ATS Winner: Texas Tech, O/U: Over
Betting Trends
- Texas Tech has lost five fumbles this season while Kansas State has lost seven.
- The Texas Tech defensive unit has registered 22 sacks on the year while Kansas State has 18.
- As a team, Kansas State has averaged 4.2 yards per carry across its last three games and 2.7 over its last two.
- Texas Tech has averaged 3.9 yards per carry over its last three outings and 3.3 over its past two.
- Over its last three matches, Texas Tech is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Kansas State’s last game was set at 46.5. The under cashed in the team’s 24-20 loss to West Virginia.
- Over its last three contests, Kansas State is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
- The Over/Under for Texas Tech’s previous game going into it was 53.5. The over cashed in that 33-31 defeat to TCU.
