Texas Bowl: Ole Miss vs Texas Tech 12/28/22 College Football Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Ole Miss Rebels and Texas Tech Red Raiders clash Wednesday night in the college football Texas Bowl from NRG Stadium.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders come into this bowl game at 7-5 on the year, representing the Big 12. Donovan Smith has thrown for 1,505 yards, 12 touchdowns and 8 INTs on 66.2% passing but has announced he is entering the transfer portal while Behren Morton has thrown for 1,117 yards, 7 scores and 6 interceptions on 57.1% passing. SaRodorick Thompson leads Texas Tech’s ground attack with 670 rushing yards with 6 touchdowns, while Tahj Brooks has 601 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns this season. Jerand Bradley leads Texas Tech’s receiving group with 656 receiving yards along with 5 touchdowns, while Xavier White has 561 receiving yards and Myles Price has a team-high 48 grabs for 478 yards this season. Three more Texas Tech receivers each have 300+ receiving yards as well this season. On defense, Krishon Merriweather has a team-high 104 total tackles while Tyree Wilson has a team-high 7 sacks and Reggie Pearson Jr. has a pair of INTs as well this season.

The Ole Miss Rebels will enter this bowl game on behalf of the SEC after going 8-4 in the regular season. Jaxson Dart has thrown for 2,613 yards, 18 touchdowns and 8 interceptions on 62.6% passing while Quinshon Judkins has a team-high 1,476 rushing yards and 16 TDs and Zach Evans has 899 rushing yards with 8 scores. Malik Heath leads Ole Miss in receiving with 52 catches for 834 yards and 4 touchdowns while Jonathan Mingo has 48 grabs for 808 receiving yards and 5 scores this season. On defense, Troy Brown has a team-high 91 total tackles while Ole Miss’ unit as a whole has 33 sacks this season.

Texas Tech is 3-8 ATS in their last 11 bowl games and 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games against the SEC while the over is 16-6 in their last 22 neutral site games. Ole Miss is 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall and 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games against a team with a winning record while the under is 11-2 in their last 13 games against a team with a winning record.

I get the case to be made on either side in this game but I like the over here. The Red Raiders found themselves offensively down the stretch and have ended up in a lot of higher-scoring games this season. The same can be said for the Rebels, who have been consistent offensively over the course of the season and this to me just sets up as a shootout in the 38-34 or 38-35 range. Give me the over here.