Kansas State vs Texas Tech Odds: Red Raiders Small Home Favorites
Wildcats Look to Bounce Back After Upset vs Cowboys
The Kansas State at Texas Tech game isn’t going to garner a lot of attention. But it could turn out to be one of the better games on this weekend’s NCAAF football schedule. The Wildcats are 3-2 after losing to Oklahoma State last week as 11.5-point favorites, while the Red Raiders have moved to 3-3 after consecutive victories. The Kansas State vs Texas Tech odds have the Red Raiders favored by 1.5 and the total on the game is 56.5 points.
Kansas State Wildcats at Texas Tech Red Raiders 
Day/Time:
Line: Texas Tech -1.5
Total: 56.5
Streaming: FS1
KSU Underdogs For First Time This Season
After being favored in each of their first five games, the Wildcats are getting points for the first time this year. Kansas State covered the college football spread in all three victories, and land at 3-2 ATS for the year. The Wildcats are 3-2 in totals behind a well-balanced offense that is rushing and throwing for more than 200 yards per game. Kansas State averages 203 rushing yards per game on 5.0 yards per carry. The Wildcats are passing for 257.4 yards per game and scoring 35.8 points per game against NCAAF teams allowing 28.4 points per game.
Defensively, Kansas State is allowing 20.6 points to teams that score 23.9 points on average. The Wildcats are allowing just 94.2 rushing yards per game and 3.0 yards per carry. Teams have enjoyed a little more success against the Kansas State pass defense, with KSU allowing 259 yards per game. Teams are gaining 353.2 total yards against the Wildcats, which is nearly 50 fewer than they average.
Red Raiders Bouncing Back From Slow Start
Through the first four games of the season, Texas Tech had just a victory over Tarleton State to its credit. But a pair of Big 12 Conference wins against Houston and Baylor, have the Red Raiders tied for third place in the Big 12 college football rankings with a 2-1 conference mark. But the college football schedule isn’t easy for Texas Tech down the stretch. The Red Raiders still have Kansas and Texas on the remaining slate, along with TCU and this one won’t be easy.
Texas Tech is scoring 34.2 points against teams allowing 26.8 points per game. The Red Raiders are running for 178.8 yards per game and 4.4 yards per carry. Through the air, Texas Tech is averaging 219.5 passing yards a game. The Red Raiders have a pretty balanced attack with roughly the same number of runs and passes.
On defense, Texas Tech has been pretty strong, allowing 23 points to teams averaging 25.8 points. The Red Raiders allow just 3.5 yards per carry and have been pretty average against the pass. Texas Tech has allowed 659 passing yards the past two games, but won and covered the spread in both games.
What to Expect
Kansas State should make an effort to get its passing game back on track. Last week’s 29-21 loss to Oklahoma State was the first time the Wildcats were held to under 200 rushing yards all season. The Wildcats were able to move the ball on the ground, but it wasn’t enough to keep KSU from being on the right side of the college football betting lines.
Texas Tech has a solid quarterback in Tyler Slough. But the Red Raiders like to keep the defense guessing by mixing things up between the run and the pass. Texas Tech has won all three games it rushed for more than 175 yards. The Red Raiders lost three games where it didn’t.
Who to Bet On?
The Kansas State vs Texas Tech odds of Red Raiders -1.5 may have the wrong team favored. The Sagarin college football rankings have the Wildcats 2.04 points better, while other power ratings have KSU three or four points better. But the Red Raiders do get a little credit for having played a tougher schedule.
The Kansas State vs Texas Tech odds on the total of 57.5 is a pretty decent number. It’s the highest total Kansas State has seen this season, while Texas Tech had several games with totals in the 60s and higher.
This game is pretty much a toss-up and that’s reflected in the line. But it’s a little easier to make a case for Kansas State than it is for Texas Tech, so take the Wildcats +1.5 in the game.
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