Red Raiders Visit Jayhawks in Solid Game

The Texas Tech Red Raiders visit the No. 21 Kansas Jayhawks for an early game Saturday. It’s a decent NCAAF matchup featuring a Texas Tech fighting for a college bowl berth against a solid Kansas team. At 7-2, the Jayhawks don’t have to worry about bowl eligibility. But they have higher aspirations. They also have Kansas State on deck, which is one reason why the line is a bit lower than expected here. The Texas Tech vs Kansas CFB prediction sees the Jayhawks favored by 3.5 points (-115), and the total on the game is 61 points.

Texas Tech Fighting For Bowl Lives

The Red Raiders kept their bowl hopes alive last week with a clutch 35-28 victory over TCU to move to 4-5 on the NCAAF season. Texas Tech has to win two of its last three games, which won’t be easy with Kansas, UCF, and Texas on the schedule. The Red Raiders aren’t a bad team. But there are better teams in the Big 12 Conference, so Texas Tech is 4-5 straight-up and against the NCAAF betting lines.

The Red Raiders are scoring 30.6 points against teams, allowing 26.6 points per game. Texas Tech runs and throws at a 50-50 mix. The team can move the ball on the ground or through the air, but the rushing game might take on a little more importance in this one. The Red Raiders gain 4.6 yards per carry against teams, allowing 4.5 yards per rushing attempt. Texas Tech is pretty average in terms of the passing game.

The Red Raiders allow 25.7 points to teams averaging 26.8 points, so the defense is little better than average in that department. Texas Tech is tough against the run, allowing 3.9 yards per carry. The numbers against the pass aren’t bad, but the run defense will need to step up here.

Kansas Coming Off Pair of Tough Wins

The Jayhawks are playing well and have beaten Oklahoma and Iowa State in consecutive weeks as underdogs. But now, Kansas is one of the NCAA football favorites this week, and that hasn’t always been a great situation. Home favorites off two victories as underdogs are 100-119-8 against the point spread.

The Jayhawks are running and throwing well, which is the main reason Kansas is scoring 34.9 points per game against teams allowing 27.4 points. Kansas is rushing for 198.3 yards per game and 5.3 yards per carry. But Jason Bean has done a solid job at quarterback, and the Jayhawks average 235.9 passing yards per game and a 9.4 yards per pass average.

The Kansas defense has been pretty average, allowing 27.3 points to teams scoring 26.6 points per game. The Jayhawks haven’t done a great job against the run or the pass. But they’ve played well enough to win, which is the main thing.

What to Expect

The Red Raiders will likely come out with the mindset of running the football. That’s the best way of taking the crowd out of the game and also Tech’s best chance of moving the football consistently. The Kansas pass defense doesn’t put feat into opponents so the Red Raiders will mix in a fair number of passes. But if the running game works, the Red Raiders can stay right with Kansas.

The Jayhawks have to play somebody before Kansas State, and the NCAA football schedule had Texas Tech on the slate. It’s not the greatest of matchups for Kansas. The Red Raiders are strong in some areas where Kansas struggles. But the Jayhawks can also take advantage of a few problem areas for the Red Raiders. The Jayhawks will try to run also and throw when needed.

Who to Bet On?

The Texas Tech vs Kansas CFB prediction against the line of KU -3.5 is a little tricky. It’s a game where you would expect to see the number closer to 4.5 or 5 points given what Kansas has accomplished the last two weeks. But with a possible letdown after two tough wins and the rivalry game on deck, it makes sense.

The Texas Tech vs Kansas CFB prediction on the total is a bit of a little different story. If both teams look to run the ball, it could help the under. But both NCAAF teams can put the points on the college football scoreboard.

This isn’t the easiest of games to handicap, but taking Texas Tech +3.5 (-105) makes the most sense. The Red Raiders will give you everything they have in this one. Kansas is in a tougher spot and has its game of the year up next.

For NCAAF betting news, NCAA football rankings, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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