Texas Tech Football: Complete 2018 preview, prediction

Schedule and prediction

There’s no such thing as an easy schedule in the Big 12. With such a prominent middle class, as I mentioned earlier, there’s really no easy games (except for Kansas) through the entire nine game conference schedule. There’s no way to hide from Oklahoma or TCU, and the second tier teams are some of the best in the nation.

Having one of the best G5 teams and a rising SEC team in their non-conference certainly won’t help either. Texas Tech starts with Ole Miss, gets a break against Lamar, and then hosts Houston. Even with both Ole Miss and Houston expected to have some struggles, that’s a brutal start.

That leads into conference play, in which Texas Tech draws yet another rough patch, with where their games are going to be played. They have to travel to TCU, Oklahoma State, Iowa State and Kansas State, and getting to host Oklahoma and Texas, among others doesn’t soften that blow.

Prediction: 7-5

I think Kliff gets Tech back to a winning season this year. After two straight losing seasons, hitting the over .500 mark will be a nice improvement. Will it be enough to keep him employed? It’s hard to say for sure, but I wouldn’t expect it.

Now, how do they get to seven wins? Well, a lot of it will hinge on how much their defense improves, but I do see at least seven winnable games on this schedule. I think Lamar, Houston, Kansas, Baylor, Kansas State, and two of Ole Miss, Texas, West Virginia and Iowa State are all possible. I don’t see them upsetting Oklahoma, TCU or Oklahoma State, but they may not need to.

Next: Big 12: Top 5 expansion candidates for the conference

With how open the Big 12 is, this could finally be Kliff’s year to breakthrough. It’ll take a great coaching job, but it’s not out of the question. Can he save his job once again?