Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma betting odds, trends and pick: Don’t overlook the Raiders

After suffering through a few down years in the post-Mike Leach era, the Red Raiders have re-emerged as a national contender this season with a 7-0 SU and 5-2 ATS record. While Texas Tech has a few nice wins on the resume including a home win over TCU and a road win last week over West Virginia, the Red Raiders get their biggest test of the season this week heading into Oklahoma.

Year in and year out under Bob Stoops, the Oklahoma Sooners look like national championship contenders until they drop a game they shouldn’t at some point. This year, that game was a 36-20 loss to Texas as a 13.5-point favorite.

The Sooners bounced back with a win over Kansas, but have failed to cover the spread in each of their last three games and are 6-1 SU and 3-4 ATS on the season. Giving up 36 to Texas was an uncharacteristically bad day for this defense, which has held opponents to 21 points or fewer in every other game.

Texas Tech’s defense has looked good to this point in the season allowing just 18.7 points per game, but the Red Raiders haven’t faced many strong offenses yet. Oklahoma has scored 38 points or more in each of its last three games against Texas Tech, which the Red Raiders likely couldn’t afford this year against Oklahoma’s strong defense.

This is a tough one to call. While Texas Tech hasn’t proven itself this season, neither has Oklahoma; especially on offense, where the Sooners aren’t nearly as explosive as they have been in years past.

With seven points, we like the Red Raiders to keep it close.

PICK: Texas Tech +7 | Computer Prediction: 45-37 Texas Tech

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