NCAAF: TEXAS FACES FINAL TOUGH TEST
The Texas Longhorns have a great chance to make the national title game, but first they need to get by the Texas Tech Red Raiders in Lubbock.
Bet on another Big 12 showdown that will be nationally broadcast at 8 pm ET on ABC. Texas (8-0) is currently only 3 ½-point favorites after opening at five.
That’s a similar scenario to what happened against Missouri a couple of weeks ago. Texas opened as seven-point chalk and it dropped down to four. Texas won 56-31, although that game was at home.
We also have a Primetime Prop for this contest. If you back the player who scores the first touchdown in the “Player to Score 1st TD” prop and he finishes the game with at least 120 rushing or receiving yards, your winning wager will be doubled up to $100 for this specific prop.
In the last three weeks, Texas has beaten #1 Oklahoma, #11 Missouri and #6 Oklahoma State. Now they have to travel to #7 Texas Tech is an unprecedented streak of highly ranked opponents.
The good news is if they get by Tech, it could easily mean a spot in national title game. Their final three opponents are Baylor, Kansas and Texas A&M, none of them currently ranked. The biggest challenge in a potential Big 12 title game would most likely come from Missouri, and Texas already handled them easily.
Texas Tech (8-0) is coming off their most impressive game of the year, a 63-21 win at Kansas. Texas Tech was only a two-point favorite but quarterback Graham Harrell threw for 386 yards and five touchdowns. They were also helped by five Jayhawks’ turnovers including three interceptions by quarterback, Todd Reesing.
The Red Raiders won’t be able to rely on turnovers this week, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy has only four interceptions on the year although he did have one last week against Oklahoma State in addition to a fumble.
McCoy is making smart decisions with the football and his 81.8% completion percentage is unbelievable. He will take what the Texas Tech defense gives him, even if it’s the short pass. He’ll also tuck it and run if he sees an opening. The Longhorns will put up their share of points, and it’s just a matter of how many they will give up.
The interesting part of his game for underdog backers is that Texas Tech’s strength (the passing game) is the vulnerability of the Texas defense. They have the nation’s top rated passing attack (418.4 YPG) while Texas is 10th in the Big 12 in pass defense allowing 265.5 yards per game.
Looking at the trends, Texas has won the last five meetings and eight of nine overall. Texas has also covered the spread in three of the last four. This is Texas Tech’s shot at the big time and they know it, let’s see if they can get the job done.
Besides the game odds, check out our full set of props for this game like the Player to Score 1st TD, and plenty of others. For example, who the first team to score will be, and whether the longest touchdown in the game will be more than 59.5 yards.
—————————————————-
