College Football Predictions 2018: Picks for the biggest games of Week 7
Texas Tech at TCU – Thursday 7:30 PM ET, ESPN
Spread: TCU -7
In a battle of a pair of 3-2 Big 12 teams in need of a win, Texas Tech travels to Fort Worth to take on TCU on Thursday night.
The big question mark surrounding this game is the health of both team’s starting quarterbacks.
TCU’s Shawn Robinson injured his left shoulder in TCU’s last game, a win over Iowa State. He has been cleared to play, but Gary Patterson has him listed as questionable. If he’s unable to go, the Horned Frogs would turn to former Penn State transfer Michael Collins, who has thrown just 14 career passes. Working in TCU’s favor, regardless of who takes the snaps from the center, is that the Red Raiders are 101st nationally in defensive S&P+, according to Bill Connelly. TCU’s offense has struggled this season with Robinson at quarterback, ranking just 74th in offensive S&P+.
Texas Tech has found the most success this season with Alan Bowman at quarterback after the freshman replaced McLane Carter in the season-opening loss to Ole Miss when Carter sprained his ankle. Bowman has posted a 155.5 QB rating this season with 11 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. He has already led the Red Raiders to a road win over a Big 12 foe when they knocked off Oklahoma State in Stillwater.
Bowman is questionable as well, however, after suffering a partially collapsed lung in Texas Tech’s loss to West Virginia. He was replaced in that game by the erratic Jett Duffey who, in between some highlight reel plays, threw two costly interceptions in an eight-point loss. If not Duffey, there’s a chance that McLane Carter, who opened the season as Texas Tech’s starter, could play for the first time since the season opener.
I think Bowman plays and is able to lead Texas Tech to not only cover, but an outright win in Fort Worth.