Texas Tech at Oklahoma Odds

Written by Jack Jones

The third-ranked Oklahoma Sooners welcome the Texas Tech Raider Raiders to Norman Saturday in Week 8 college football action. The Red Raiders have been a thorn in their side in recent years as these teams have split the last six meetings. The home team has won seven straight in this series, including a 45-7 victory by the Sooners last year. Oklahoma has won seven straight in Norman over Texas Tech while averaging 39.8 points.

According to the latest college football spreads, Oklahoma is a 29-Point Favorite over Texas Tech and the total is set at 70.5.

Oklahoma

The Sooners have won 39 straight home games, which is the longest such streak in the nation. Oklahoma (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) remained undefeated with a 47-17 blowout victory at Kansas last weekend. They racked up 600 total yards, including a school-record 217 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns from star receiver Ryan Broyles. He also became the NCAA’s career leaded in receptions with 326 after snagging 13 balls against the Jayhawks. Dominique Whaley rushed for a career-high 165 yards and a touchdown as well.

Oklahoma ranks 4th in the country in total offense (547.2 yards/game) and sixth in scoring offense (45.3 points/game. Their defense hasn’t been too shabby, either. The Sooners are 22nd in the land in total defense (317.2 yards/game) and 11th in scoring defense (15.8 points/game). Landry Jones is having a monster season, completing 67.6 percent of his passes for 2,177 yards and 16 touchdowns to six interceptions. Broyles has 60 grabs for 815 yards and nine touchdowns, and his 44 career touchdowns represents a Big 12 record. Whaley has rushed for 627 yards and nine scores.

In last year’s 45-7 triumph over Texas Tech, Jones threw for 317 yards and five touchdowns. He found Broyles eight times for 119 yards and three of those scores. The only real area of concern for the Sooners heading into this game is their red zone offense. They are only scoring touchdowns on 56 percent of their red zone opportunities, and they had to settle for four field goals inside the 20 against Kansas.

Texas Tech

The Red Raiders have the ability to hang with Oklahoma offensively, but unfortunately they feature one of the worst defenses in the land. Texas Tech (4-2, 1-2 Big 12) would be unbeaten if it wasn’t for their defensive struggles the last two weeks. They suffered a 45-40 loss to then-No. 24 Texas A&M on October 8th, then came back last week and fell to then-No. 17 Kansas State 41-34. The Red Raiders outgained the Wildcats 580-339 and got a career-high 461 passing yards from Seth Doege, yet they still lost.

Tech committed four turnovers against Kansas State, including three picks from Doege. One of those interceptions was returned for a touchdown, and the special teams allowed a 100-yard kickoff return for a score. They rank 82nd in the country in total defense (406.7 yards/game) and 82nd in scoring defense (29.5 points/game) as well. The Red Raiders are just 3-26 in their last 29 road games against ranked opponents.

What gives Texas Tech hope is an offense that ranks 6th in the nation in yards per game (533.8) and ninth in scoring (43.8 points/game). Doege has been brilliant at quarterback, completing 70.7 percent of his passes for 2,167 yards and 18 touchdowns to four interceptions. His favorite targets are Alex Torres (35 receptions, 381 yards, one TD), Eric Ward (38, 352, eight TD) and Darrin Moore (21, 339, four TD). Leading rusher Eric Stephens (570 yards, eight TD) is out for the season with a knee injury, leaving the RB duties to DeAndre Washington (134 yards, three TD) and Aaron Crawford (121 yards, one TD).

Betting Trends

The home team is 5-0 ATS in the last 5 meetings, and Oklahoma is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home meetings with Texas Tech. The Sooners are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 home games overall, and 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games as a home favorite of 10.5 or greater.

The Red Raiders are 44-18-1 ATS in their last 63 games following a S.U. loss, including 9-1-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a ATS loss. However, Texas Tech is just 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games as a road underdog.

Take your bankroll to new heights throughout the rest of the college football season by following the advice of expert handicapper Jack Jones.

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