Texas Tech-Oklahoma State Highlight Vegas Big 12 Predictions Week 5
Saturday Blitz Vegas Big 12 Predictions Week 5
Game of the Week
Texas Tech Red Raiders at No. 24 Oklahoma State Cowboys
Line: Oklahoma State by 13.5
This game could turn into a thriller or be a blowout. With two teams that were expected to be on the same level at the beginning of the year and both now standing at 2-1, right now one team has looked great en route to that 2-1 record while the other team has raised lots of eyebrows, in a negative way, en route to their record. With the two teams clashing to open their conference seasons, we should be able to learn a lot about where each team really stands as far as the level of talent goes this weekend.
The Oklahoma State Cowboys and Mike Gundy have shocked the college football world with how well they have played so far this season, starting with coming incredibly close to upsetting Florida State in the first game of the season. The offense looks like it hasn’t missed a beat despite losing so much talent this past year, and now it finally gets a chance to lead the team to a quality victory Thursday night. How Oklahoma State plays depends on how Daxx Garman plays, the back-up quarterback who has replaced the injured J.W. Walsh. He has looked good so far, but this is his most significant test yet, and it’s a great chance for him to make a name for himself. If he can keep playing to avoid throwing interceptions, as he has been, and if Oklahoma State can get a good rushing attack going to help Garman, then this should be a win at home. But the defense will also have to show up to a degree as well, which they have not been able to do in certain instances this season, giving up 23 points to Missouri State (although 10 came late in the game).
Texas Tech hung on by a thread for its first two games to maintain respectability, but the bottom fell out in Week 3 after the Red Raiders got blown out by Arkansas 49-28. The fact that the Texas Tech defense is 112th in the country with 36.7 points per game given up is not much of a surprise. But it is surprise that the offense hasn’t made up for it yet, ranked 60th in average points per game with 33.3 Typically, in Kliff Kingsbury’s air raid offense, if Texas Tech is going to give up 30 points it usually scores 50 points. Another issue is that the defense should be a little better against bad teams such as Central Arkansas. That is what’s going to have to happen Thursday if they are going to pull off this upset on the road. The defense has to be somewhat competent, and Davis Webb and the offense have to put on a clinic to win what will likely be a shootout. And they have to stop losing the turnover battle, with 6 on the year through three games already. If those things happen, they’ll have a chance to pull of the upset.
Prediction
This game is going to be a high-scoring shootout that is fun for all of us to watch, as Garman and Webb will go back and forth and put up tons of points. But with a better defense by a hair, the home crowd, and the ability to take care of the football, Oklahoma State will end up getting the win. And with so much scoring and more plays run, they will probably win by more than one score since they are the better team as well. Look for people to start praising Garman as he proves that Gundy has a brilliant offensive system once again. The Cowboys will move to 3-1 and prove that they are as good as they looked to open the season.
Oklahoma State: 56 Texas Tech: 45