Texas Tech vs. Nevada Preview | Free Pick

Texas Tech Red Raiders at Nevada Wolf Pack

A couple of high-powered offensive attacks will get together on Saturday out west as the Texas Tech Red Raiders (1-0 SU, 0-0 ATS) visit the Nevada Wolf Pack (1-0 SU, 0-0 ATS) in a potentially explosive NCAA college football encounter that is scheduled to kick off at 9:05 PM ET at Mackay Stadium (artificial turf) in Reno, NV.

BetUS NCAA Football Betting Odds: TEXAS TECH -10, Total 67.5

Here are some of the NCAA college football betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* TT has won four of its last five games SU

* TT has won 11 of its last 15 games SU

* TT has covered two of its last six games

* TT has played five of its last eight games UNDER the total

* TT has covered one of its last five road games

* NEV has won 15 of its last 18 home games SU

* NEV has covered two of its last seven games

* NEV has won five of its last seven home games SU

* NEV has played six of its last seven games UNDER the total

Okay – who’s going to have the ball last? Well, it’s not really that simple, but like they say in boxing, this one should be entertaining while it lasts. Don’t fall completely under the impression that Graham Harrell of Texas Tech (72%, 5705 yards, 48 TD’s last year) is merely a “system” quarterback; NFL scouts consider him be a notch or two better than some of his Red Raider predecessors in Mike Leach’s Air Raid attack. And you better believe that wide receiver Michael Crabtree (134 receptions, 1962 yards in ’07), last year’s Biletnikoff Award winner, will be a first-round draft choice whenever he decides to leave school. Both Harrell (43-58, 536 yards) and Crabtree (one of three Red Raiders with nine catches) were in fine form as Texas Tech tuned up with 639 total yards in a 49-24 win over Eastern Washington in the season opener.

But wait – Nevada, which rolled through Grambling 49-13 behind 629 yards of offense, looks like it’s ready to run up some scores as well. The Wolf Pack, due to an injury to Nick Graziano, was forced to go with freshman Colin Kaepernick at QB last year, and it appears as if the tall (6’6″) Milwaukee native with the rocket arm, who can run it quite a bit too (three rushing TD’s in the opener) and tossed 19 TD passes with just three interceptions last year, is ready to emerge as one of the nation’s best quarterbacks. That is, if coach Chris Ault doesn’t make him split time with Graziano. Ault was creating one of those phony “quarterback competitions” during fall practice that usually serves to take first-team snaps away from the eventual starter.

Much was made over Texas Tech committing itself more to the defensive side of the ball this year. But there was a disappointing performance against Eastern Washington (341 passing yards allowed) and this week there is a bigger challenge coming from Nevada’s “Pistol” offense, which is usually something different than what most opponents will see throughout the course of the year. The sense is that Nevada’s rushing attack, spearheaded by Kaepernick and Luke Lipincott, will do plenty of business against the Red Raider front.

And Nevada is pretty formidable at Mackay Stadium, having covered 17 of its last 22 contests there. They can make a game of it. Take the points with the Wolf Pack, the ten-point underdog in the BetUS NCAA college football betting odds.

JAY’S PLAY: NEVADA +10 **