NCAAF Odds: Red Raiders and Longhorns Resume Texas Rivalry

Posted by Mickey on November 24, 2015 in

The Texas Tech Red Raiders (5-5) head south to take on the Texas Longhorns (4-6) in a Thanksgiving night contest that has no real ramifications for the Big 12 title but nonetheless is quite an important game for both teams’ potential bowl eligibility. The Longhorns must win if they hope to gain six victories, while the Red Raiders can clinch eligibility with their sixth victory. The Longhorns opened the NCAAF odds as two-point favorites, but has slightly moved to 1.5 points, making this game a razor-thin line.

Texas Tech vs Texas Longhorns Game Preview and Betting Odds

Date/Time: Thursday, November 26, 7:30 PM
Location: Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium/Jamail Field, Austin, Texas
Betting Odds: Texas -1½
TV: ABC | ESPN2
Radio: Oklahoma
Online streaming: WatchESPN

The Red Raiders are looking for their third victory on the road, although, the team has struggled all season long when facing strong rivals (An example of that is the three straight losses in the hands of Oklahoima, Oklahoma State and West Virginia). Patrick Mahomes II has a 65.7 completion rate for the season, as he has racked up 3,911 yards and 31 scores against 13 interceptions. In the last three games, Mahomes has 10 touchdown passes. His favorite targets are Devin Lauderdale and Jakeem Grant, who have combined for 10 scores and 1,593 receiving yards. Reginald Davis has also hauled in 32 catches.

The Red Raiders average almost 200 yards per game on the ground, led by the 1,282 yards that DeAndre Washington has gained so far, along with a dozen touchdowns. However, defense has been the Red Raiders’ Achilles heel as they permit 42.4 points per game and 546 yards. Micah Awe has been a solid contributor on defense with 102 tackles. Pete Robertson leads the team with five sacks, and J.J. Gaines has intercepted four passes.

Texas Longhorns

Jerrod Heard continues to scuff along in his journey toward nailing down the starting job in Austin. He has 1,202 passing yards this season, competing 59.1 percent of his passes. He has thrown for five touchdowns and five interceptions, although he has two touchdown passes in the last two contests. Daje Johnson and John Burt have combined to gain 774 receiving yards and three scores. On the ground, Texas averages 214 yards per game, led by D’Onta Foreman’s 681 yards and five scores. Foreman is questionable for the Texas Tech game because of an injury to his finger. On defense, the Longhorns permit 29.9 points per game. Peter Jinkens is the Longhorns’ leading tackler with 75 stops. Bryce Cottrell leads the squad with three sacks, and Dylan Haines has four picks.

Betting Odds Trends

Texas Tech Red Raiders
  • The total has gone OVER in 6 of Texas Tech’s last 8 games
  • The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Texas Tech’s last 5 games on the road
  • Texas Tech is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Texas
  • Texas Tech is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Texas
  • The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Texas Tech’s last 6 games when playing Texas
  • Texas Tech is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Texas
  • Texas Tech is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Texas
  • The total has gone OVER in 4 of Texas Tech’s last 6 games when playing on the road against Texas
Texas Longhorns
  • Texas is 4-8 ATS in its last 12 games
  • Texas is 4-8 SU in its last 12 games
  • The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Texas’s last 7 games
  • Texas is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
  • Texas is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
  • The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Texas’s last 18 games at home
  • Texas is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Texas Tech
  • Texas is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Texas Tech
  • The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Texas’s last 6 games when playing Texas Tech
  • Texas is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Texas Tech
  • Texas is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Texas Tech
  • The total has gone OVER in 4 of Texas’s last 6

Texas Tech Red Raiders

Texas Tech is 5-0 against the spread in their last five November contests. In their last 14 November games, they are 9-4-1 against the spread. Texas is 4-1 against the spread in their last five home contests and 5-2 against the spread in their last seven November tilts. Over their last five games in Austin, Texas Tech is 1-4 against the spread; in their last five meetings, the Red Raiders are 0-5 against the spread.

There are several factors that point to a Longhorn victory, but perhaps the fact that Texas need to win this game to get to a bowl game (plus the home advantage) makes Texas a sure candidate to beat the Red Riders and cover the spread.