The BYU Cougars and Texas Tech Red Raiders meet Saturday in the college football Big 12 Championship at AT&T Stadium. Here’s a Texas Tech vs BYU Prediction. This article will include a Texas Tech vs BYU Pick.
BYU Cougars Betting Preview
The BYU Cougars beat Cincinnati and UCF. BYU has won 3 straight games. Bear Bachmeier is completing 64.6 percent of his passes for 2,593 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. Chase Roberts and Parker Kingston have combined for 1,517 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, while Carsen Ryan has 35 receptions.
The BYU Cougars ground game is averaging 212.2 yards per contest, and LJ Martin leads the way with 1,229 yards and 11 touchdowns. Defensively, BYU is allowing 19.4 points and 354.1 yards per game. Faletau Satuala leads the BYU Cougars with 70 tackles, Jack Kelly has 9 sacks and Evan Johnson has 4 interceptions.
Texas Tech Red Raiders Betting Preview
The Texas Tech Red Raiders beat West Virginia and UCF. Texas Tech has won 5 straight games. Behren Morton is completing 67.8 percent of his passes for 2,428 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. Caleb Douglas and Reggie Virgil have combined for 1,413 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns, while Coy Eakin has 44 receptions.
The Texas Tech Red Raiders ground game is averaging 211.2 yards per contest, and Cameron Dickey leads the way with 1,023 yards and 13 touchdowns. Defensively, Texas Tech is allowing 12.3 points and 282.5 yards per game. Jacob Rodriguez leads the Texas Tech Red Raiders with 101 tackles, David Bailey has 12.5 sacks and Brice Pollock has 5 interceptions.
Why the Texas Tech Red Raiders will win
- Texas Tech has won each of its last nine games in Texas.
- Texas Tech has covered the spread in each of its last nine games in Texas.
- BYU has failed to cover the spread in three of its last four games as an underdog against top-10 AP-ranked teams.
- Texas Tech has won the first quarter in 11 of its last 13 games against conference opponents.
- Texas Tech has won the first half in 11 of its last 12 games against conference opponents.
Why the BYU Cougars will win
- BYU has won 13 of its last 14 games.
- Texas Tech has lost each of its last four games against AP-ranked teams at neutral venues.
- The team ranked 11th in the AP Poll has covered the spread in each of its last four games.
- Texas Tech has failed to cover the spread in each of its last three games against AP-ranked teams at neutral venues.
- BYU has won the first half in each of its last three games against conference opponents.
Total Points Facts
- Each of BYU’s last six games against top-15 AP-ranked teams have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Each of Texas Tech’s last four games against AP-ranked teams at neutral venues have gone OVER the total points line.
Texas Tech Red Raiders Player Prop Facts
- Heading into the Conference Championships, David Bailey ranks 1st amongst FBS players for sacks (12.5) this season.
BYU Cougars Player Prop Facts
- Heading into the Conference Championships, Will Ferrin ranks T5th amongst FBS players for made field goals (22) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- Texas Tech has recorded the equal-most home wins by a margin of 10+ points of any FBS team this season (7).
- Texas Tech has recorded the most home wins by a margin of 15+ points of any FBS team this season (7).
- BYU ranks T9th among FBS teams for interceptions this season (16).
- BYU ranks 9th among FBS teams for average point differential in fourth quarters this season (+5.1).
Texas Tech vs BYU Prediction
BYU is a tough pshycial defensive minded team that’s capable of hanging around and even pulling off the upset under perfect circumstances. The problem is, I don’t trust BYU’s offense against good teams, mainly at the quarterback position. Texas Tech is arguably the more balanced team in the country, ranked top-five in scoring offense and scoring defense. Texas Tech has also covered 10 straight games as a double-digit favorite.
In the last four games as a double-digit favorite, Texas Tech has held its opponent to single-digit points. A month ago, Texas Tech beat BYU 29-7. In its last 5 games, Texas Tech is allowing an average of 7.2 points. If BYU can’t run the ball and stay ahead of the chains, this has a chance to get ugly. I’d love to see a competitive Big 12 title game, but I have to lay the points with Texas Tech.