The No. 25 Texas Tech Red Raiders are set to battle the No. 12 West Virginia Mountaineers in a matchup where one winning streak will hit four games. ESPN2 will televise the action and kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET.
West Virginia Mountaineers at Texas Tech Red Raiders Betting Preview
In this Saturday Big 12 game, West Virginia is projected as the favorite and is currently giving up 3.5 points. The Mountaineers are also receiving -175 moneyline odds while the Red Raiders are +155. There will likely be multiple good in-game betting scenarios in this showdown.
The initial odds have recently shifted. This game’s opening line was 4.
Both of these teams have been profitable this season as the Mountaineers have recorded 2.0 units while 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.
Each team enters the contest on a three-game undefeated streak. The Mountaineers are hoping to remain unbeaten after a 35-6 win over Kansas State last week where Will Grier completed 25 passes on 35 attempts for 356 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. Kennedy McKoy (73 yards on 12 rush attempts) led the ground attack while David Sills V (10 receptions, 73 yards, three TDs) and Marcus Simms (five catches, 136 yards, one TD) manned the receiving duties in the win.
Texas Tech is coming off of 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 yards on 14 rush 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 attack in the win.
West Virginia’s 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 rushed for 172 yards per game and have three touchdowns on the ground this year. The Red Raiders are putting up 188 rush yards per game and have 16 total rushing TDs.
If the numbers so far this season are any indication, then it appears the Mountaineers should hold an edge in terms of effectiveness in the ground game, as their backfield has generated 5.1 yards per carry while the defense is allowing 3.2 yards per rush attempt to opponents. The Red Raiders have tallied 4.2 yards per carry and allowed 4.6 YPC to opponents.
The Mountaineers offensive scheme has averaged 374 yards through the air overall and has 14 passing TDs so far. The Red Raiders have produced a ridiculous 436 pass yards per outing and have 11 total pass scores.
Defensively, West Virginia appears to have the upper hand in both facets. The team has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 119 yards and pass for 185 yards per game. The Texas Tech defense has given up 284.0 yards per game to opposing passers and 153.3 yards per game to opposing runners. The Mountaineers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 6.04 to opposing QBs, while the Red Raiders have given up a 6.64 ANY/A.
Offensively, Grier has put up 785 passing yards this season. He’s connected on 72 percent of his 69 attempts with 10 scores through the air and only two interceptions. He’s got a pristine 12.32 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 11.51 over the last two outings.
We expect the Mountaineers to control tempo by feeding their running backs early and often. In addition to wideout Marcus Simms (176 receiving yards and one touchdown), Kennedy McKoy (91 rush yards, one receiving TD) and Leddie Brown (56 rush yards) have been big focal points in the offensive gameplans for West Virginia.
Alan Bowman has completed 86-of-120 passes for 952 yards, five TDs and two INTs for Texas Tech. His ANY/A sits at 7.60 for the year and 9.32 over his past two games.
The Red Raiders should also look to control the clock by turning to 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 seen plenty of touches lately.
When these two schools met a year ago, West Virginia got the victory over Texas Tech, 46-35.
Free Pick: West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders
SU Winner – Texas Tech, ATS Winner – Texas Tech
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Notes
Team Betting Notes
Each team defense has tallied seven sacks this year.
Texas Tech has lost one fumble this season while the West Virginia offense has let two get away.
The Mountaineers offense has produced four pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Red Raiders have accounted for five such plays.
The West Virginia defense has allowed three pass plays of 40 yards or more, 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 yards or more, while the Red Raiders have given up six such runs.
Texas Tech was favored by 15 points in its last game and the Over/Under was set at 77. The under cashed and Texas Tech covered in the team’s 41-17 victory over Oklahoma State.
In its last three games, Texas Tech is 3-0 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
In its last three matchups, West Virginia is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
West Virginia was favored by 15 points in its previous game and the O/U was set at 61.5. The under cashed and West Virginia covered in the 35-6 victory over Kansas State.
West Virginia has averaged 5.4 yards per carry over its last two outings.
Texas Tech has averaged 3.7 yards per carry over its last two.
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