One winning streak will get to four games as Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury and the No. 25 Texas Tech Red Raiders take on Coach Dana Holgorsen and the No. 12 West Virginia Mountaineers. Fans are able to catch the action live on ESPN2 and this pivotal Big 12 showdown is scheduled to start at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. West Virginia Mountaineers
Texas Tech is a live dog and is currently getting 3.5 points in this Big 12 matchup. The Mountaineers are also receiving -175 moneyline odds while the Red Raiders are +155. If one program can create a bunch of points early, it’ll probably result in a decent live betting opportunity.
The line originally opened at 4 but has recently moved.
Each of these teams has rewarded gamblers this year as the Mountaineers have gained 2.0 units and the Red Raiders are up 5.1 units.
The Mountaineers are 3-0 straight up (SU), including 1-0 SU against Big 12 opponents. The Red Raiders are 3-1 SU overall and are also 1-0 SU in conference play.
These two schools met last year with the final outcome being a 46-35 win for West Virginia.
Each team comes into the matchup on a three-game winning streak. The Mountaineers are looking to remain undefeated after a 35-6 victory over Kansas State last week. Will Grier completed 25 passes on 35 attempts for 356 yards, five scores and two interceptions. Kennedy McKoy (73 yards on 12 rush attempts) provided the running attack while David Sills V (10 receptions, 73 yards, three TDs) and Marcus Simms (five catches, 136 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties in the win.
Texas Tech just earned a 41-17 win over Oklahoma State. Alan Bowman completed 35-of-46 passes for 397 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Demarcus Felton (130 rushing yards on 14 attempts, two TDs) and SaRodorick Thompson (57 yards on 13 carries, one TD) handled the running game as Ja’Deion High (eight receptions, 79 yards) and Antoine Wesley (seven catches, 98 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the win.
West Virginia has run the ball on 50.5 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Texas Tech has a rush percentage of 47.5 percent. The Mountaineers have produced 171.7 rush yards per game and have three scores on the ground this year. The Red Raiders are logging 187.8 rush yards per game and have 16 total rushing TDs.
It seems like the Mountaineers should have the advantage when it comes to RB efficiency. Their running backs has logged 5.1 yards per carry while the defense is allowing 3.2 YPC to opponents. The Red Raiders have ran for 4.2 yards per carry and allowed 4.6 yards per rush attempt to opponents.
The Mountaineers offense has averaged 373.7 yards in the air overall and has 14 passing scores so far. The Red Raiders have put up a superb 435.8 pass yards per outing and have 11 total pass TDs.
Defensively, West Virginia appears to have the upper hand in both facets. The team has allowed 118.7 rush yards and 185.3 pass yards per game. The Texas Tech D has allowed 284.0 yards per game to opposing passers and 153.3 yards per game on the ground. The Mountaineers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 6.04 to opponents, while the Red Raiders have given up a 6.64 ANY/A.
Offensively, Grier is up to 785 passing yards on the year. The signal-caller has completed 72 percent of his 69 attempts with 10 scores through the air and only two interceptions. Grier’s got a sparkling 12.32 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 11.51 over the last two games.
The Mountaineers will likely try to maintain the clock by pounding the defense with their running backs. In addition to receiver Marcus Simms (176 receiving yards and one touchdown), Kennedy McKoy (91 rush yards, one receiving TD) and Leddie Brown (56 rush yards) have delivered in the offensive game scripts for West Virginia.
For the home team, Alan Bowman has completed 86-of-120 passes for 952 yards, five TDs and two INTs. Bowman’s ANY/A sits at 7.60 for the season and 9.32 over his last two games.
The Red Raiders also prefer to utilize their backfield. In addition to Antoine Wesley (250 receiving yards, one receiving TD), Ta’Zhawn Henry (120 rush yards, two rush TDs, 27 receiving yards) and Ja’Deion High (zero rush yards, 181 receiving yards, two TDs) have gotten a multitude of touches recently.
West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders NCAA Tip
SU Winner: West Virginia, ATS Winner: West Virginia
Betting Trends
- West Virginia was favored by 15 points in its last game and the Over/Under was set at 61.5. The under cashed and West Virginia covered in the 35-6 triumph over Kansas State.
- West Virginia has averaged 5.4 yards per carry over its last two matchups.
- Texas Tech has averaged 3.7 yards per carry over its last two.
- Texas Tech has lost one fumble this season while West Virginia has let two get away.
- In its last three matchups, West Virginia is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- Texas Tech was favored by 15 points in its last match and the Over/Under going into it was 77. The under cashed and Texas Tech covered in the 41-17 win over Oklahoma State.
- Over its last three matchups, Texas Tech is 3-0 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Mountaineers offense has registered four pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Red Raiders have accounted for five such plays.
- The West Virginia defense has allowed three pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Texas Tech has given up four such plays.
- The West Virginia offense has created five rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Texas Tech has created seven such runs.
- The Mountaineers defense has allowed three rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Red Raiders have given up six such runs.
- Each team defense has tallied seven sacks this year.
