Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma Football Betting Odds & Spread

Written November 18, 2008 by Jason Lowry

This weekend there is no bigger game on the schedule than the No.5 Oklahoma Sooners (10-1) and the No.2 ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders (10-0). With a win this week over Oklahoma the Red Raiders would at least clinch the South division, and would still be in line to play for the National Championship, but a loss could be devastating, as it would put Texas Tech, Texas, and Oklahoma in a 3 way tie with the tie breaker going to strength of schedule where Texas Tech had the much easier non-conference schedule. Both teams have had plenty of time to prepare for this one, as neither team has played in two weeks. For those of you looking to do a little NCAA football betting this weekend, the oddsmakers surprisingly have Oklahoma 7 point favorites at home over Texas Tech at Sportsbook.com

Now I’m sure head coach Mike Leach loves that his team gets a little extra motivation, as they come in as the underdogs, but this is likely all that keeps them from playing in the BCS National Championship, and that should be enough motivation in itself. The Red Raiders are coming off back to back wins over Texas and Oklahoma State at home, and this will easily be there toughest road game of the season. In the Red Raiders last game against the Cowboys, Heisman hopeful Graham Harrell exploded for 6 touchdown passes, as the Red Raiders put 14 points up in every single quarter. With those 6 touchdowns Harrell now has 36 touchdowns to just 5 interceptions, and he continues to hook up with star receiver Michael Crabtree, who had 3 of those touchdown passes against the Cowboys, and now has over 1,000 yards receiving with 18 touchdowns. This duo will have to be lights out again this week, as the Sooners have just as much offensive fire power as the Red Raiders.

The Red Raiders defense isn’t going to win any awards for being an outstanding defense or anything, but this unit has to be given some credit if they are playing on a team that hasn’t loss a game all season. They allowed a Texas team that was scoring in the 40’s with ease all season to just 33 points, and last week against Oklahoma State the Red Raiders allowed just 20 points, and that is saying something considering the Cowboys came in No. 8 in the country and had scored 50 or more points 5 times this season. Now stopping the Sooners will be no easy task, but if they can just keep them from putting up over 40 you have to think the offense is going to do enough to win the football game. Bet Texas Tech +7 at Sportsbook.com

Now the Sooners have dominated the series against the Red Raiders over the last 15 times these two teams hooked up, winning 11 of them, but the Red Raiders have come on late winning two out of the last 3 including a 34-27 win last year, but the Sooners haven’t lost at home to Red Raiders since 1996. So its easy to see where the oddsmakers get the idea of favoring the Sooners in this one, and it doesn’t help that this offense has scored nearly 58 points a game since its loss to Texas back on Oct. 11, and in their last game they went on the road and put up 66 against Texas A&M. The main reason for all those points is quarterback Sam Bradford is having just as good as season as Harrell, as the Sooners quarterback has actually thrown for more touchdowns at 38 and has just 6 interceptions. But if there is any edge that goes to the Sooners, its there running game as the Sooners have a duo of solid running back in DeMarco Murrary and Chris Brown, as they have combined for nearly 1,600 yards with 23 touchdowns this season.

The Sooners defense isn’t anywhere near the defenses we have seen in the past from head coach Bob Stoops, but just like Texas Tech, when you have an offense that can score like these guys do, it doesn’t matter if your defense gives up 30 a game. Last week the Sooners were so good against Texas A&M that they outgained them 653 to 278 and the offense didn’t do much of anything in the 4th quarter cause the starters were out. This week they are going to give up points to the Red Raiders as these two teams could go for 90 points in this one, but its going to come down to the same thing it does in every football game, who can force the other team into making mistakes and turning the football over. This could very easily be the best game in college football all season, so if you think the Sooners have what it takes to take down the undefeated Red Raiders, Bet Oklahoma -7 at Sportsbook.com

Get a head start on all the football action this weekend with these great NCAA football picks, and while your at it, check out the latest football lines from Betfirms.

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