Texas Tech vs. West Virginia Spread Pick
The West Virginia Mountaineers will put their undefeated record on the line today in Lubbock when they visit the Texas Tech Red Raiders at 12:00 p.m. ET. Will the Mountaineers cover as a small road favorite or will the Red Raiders pull off yet another upset?
Game Snapshot
183 West Virginia Mountaineers at 184 Texas Tech Red Raiders
12:00 p.m. ET, Saturday, September 29, 2018
Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, Texas
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Mountaineers are 3.5-point favorites to beat the Red Raiders. The total, meanwhile, sits at 73 points. As of this writing, 59% of the public betting tickets wagered on this matchup are on the Mountaineers.
West Virginia Mountaineers
West Virginia redshirt freshman RB Alec Sinkfield (ankle) did not participate in practice bud did light workouts on the side. Sinkfield (5’9/184) suffered his ankle injury during the Youngstown State game on September 8th, so tomorrow will be three-week mark. Without practicing, Sinkfield is not looking like he will be ready for Saturday’s game Texas Tech and he’s questionable at best for the following game against Kansas unless he begins practicing early next week. The Mountaineers have been rolling with Leddie Brown, Kennedy McCoy, and Martell Pettaway who are all averaging at least 5.5 yards per carry.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech freshman QB Alan Bowman ha the highest grade of any freshman according to Pro Football Focus. Bowman has seemingly come out of nowhere to become not only one of the most productive freshman quarterbacks in the country, but one one of the most productive players period. PFF gives the freshman gunslinger a grade of 90.5, which is ahead of Kansas freshman Pooka Williams’ 87.9. You have to give a lot of credit to the Red Raiders’ offensive system, but anyone who has watched Bowman (6’3/210) knows there’s talent in his right arm. It’s going to be fascinating to see what kind of numbers he can put up over his collegiate career.
Betting Trends
West Virginia
The Mountaineers are 5-1 against the spread in their last six games played in the month of September.
Texas Tech
The Red Raiders are 4-1 against the number in their last five games played versus a team with a winning record.
Prediction
Texas Tech’s victory over Oklahoma State last week turned heads and I’m surprised more bettors aren’t taking the points today in Lubbock. That said, this Red Raiders team is young, including at quarterback, where Bowman has been outstanding but this is another huge test today. WVU defensive coordinator Tony Gibson and his players held Pat Mahomes to just one touchdown last year and shutout Texas Tech in the fourth quarter. Granted, this will be WVU’s biggest defensive test to date (in fact, the Mountaineers have not been tested on that side of the ball yet) but I like taking the experienced Will Grier today in what should be a back-and-forth slugfest.
College Football Prediction: West Virginia Mountaineers -3.5