The wild and crazy Big 12 season continues this weekend with some big games. One of those sees the No. 24 Oklahoma Sooners (3-2) head on the road to face the Texas Tech Red Raiders (2-3). Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET on Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas, with the game televised on FOX.
The Sooners have dominated this series, winning 21 of 27 games dating back to 1982. They have won eight in a row overall and four straight in Lubbock dating back to 2009. Texas Tech’s last win in the series was in Norman in 2011.
Oklahoma Sooners Betting Outlook: Get the Ball to Playmakers
The Sooners are 3-2 overall and 3-2 ATS this season, with the over hitting in three of five games. They have excelled on offense, ranking seventh in the nation with 352.8 passing yards per game and 14th in scoring at 39.8 points per game.
The Oklahoma defense has allowed 26.8 points per game and under 100 yards rushing per contest at 94.2 yards per game.
Oklahoma had a very slow start to the season with losses to Iowa State and Kansas State, but it has bounced back with wins and covers against Texas and TCU.
Quarterback Spencer Rattler finally hit his stride last week against TCU with 332 yards and two touchdown passes. On the season, he has 1,518 yards with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 70% of his passes.
Rattler found a playmaker in freshman wide receiver Marvin Mims who is averaging 17.3 yards per catch. Mims has six touchdown catches on the season, while Jeremiah Hall has three.
Running back T.J. Pledger leads the Sooners with 341 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while Seth McGowan has 222 yards and two scores.
Texas Tech Red Raiders Betting Outlook: Play Keep Away
The Red Raiders are 2-3 ATS, and the under has hit in three of their games. The defense has been lackluster on the season, ranking in the bottom 10 in the nation in passing yards allowed (337.8 yards per game), total yards allowed (486.8 yards per game) and points allowed (37.0 points per game).
The offense is top 30 in total yards (430.8 yards per game) and passing yards (280.6 yards per game) but only 50th in scoring at 32.2 points per game.
Texas Tech got a badly needed win last Saturday, 34-27 against West Virginia. That victory stopped a three-game slide that included a heartbreaking overtime loss to Texas.
The Red Raiders switched quarterbacks last week, and Henry Colombi delivered 168 yards on 22-of-28 passing with one touchdown. Colombi and Alan Bowman shared snaps in the first four games and combined for 10 scores but five interceptions.
Myles Price was the top target against West Virginia with seven catches for 79 yards. KeSean Carter leads the team with four receiving touchdowns on the season, while Erik Ezukanma has 25 catches for 342 yards and three scores.
Using a running back by committee, the Red Raiders had three players between 40 and 68 yards last Saturday, and each scored a touchdown. SaRodorick Thompson has 350 yards and five scores on the season, while Xavier White has 154 yards and one touchdown.
Betting Lines
Oklahoma is favored by 16 on the road, and the total is 67 points. The Red Raiders are a +475 moneyline underdog.
Betting Analysis
Oklahoma has struggled to cover against the Red Raiders historically, going 1-5 ATS in its last six meetings in Lubbock. The home team is also 12-2 ATS in the last 14 meetings of this series.
The Red Raiders need to take care of the ball and sustain long drives like they did against West Virginia, but they should have the firepower to keep it closer than the experts think.
Pick: Texas Tech +16 (-110)
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