Texas Tech Red Raiders at #24 Oklahoma State Cowboys
Boone Pickens Stadium – Stillwater, Oklahoma
Thursday, September 25, 2014, 7:30 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN
Opening Line: Oklahoma State -14
Current Line: Oklahoma State -13 1/2
Opening Total: 71 1/2
Current Total: 71 1/2
Opening Money Line: OSU -578 / Texas Tech +472
Current Money Line: OSU -505 / Texas Tech +410
Both the Oklahoma State Cowboys and Texas Tech Red Raiders are 2-1 this season as they open Big 12 Conference play against each other Thursday night in Stillwater. Texas Tech leads the series 21-17-3, but Oklahoma State has won 5 straight games in the series including 52-34 last season in Lubbock. The Cowboys have won 5 straight games in Stillwater against the Red Raiders. Texas tech hasn’t won in Stillwater since 2001.
Texas Tech is coached by Kliff Kingsbury. The Red Raiders opened the season with a home win over Central Arkansas 42-35 and a road win at UTEP 30-26. Two weeks ago, Texas tech was beaten in Lubbock 49-28 by Arkansas. During the Texas Tech bye week last week, defensive coordinator Matt Wallerstedt resigned after ESPN reported he showed up at practice under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Mike Smith will be the interim defensive coordinator. The Red Raiders are 0-3 ATS and the total is 2-1 this season. Texas Tech was a pick against Arkansas and the total was 66.5.
Oklahoma State is coached by Mike Gundy. After a season opening loss to #1 Florida State 37-31 in Arlington, Texas, the Cowboys beat Missouri State 40-23 and UTSA 43-13 both in Stillwater. OSU also had a bye week last week. The Cowboys are 2-1 ATS and the total is 3-0 this season. Oklahoma State was a 12 point favorite against UTSA and the total was 55.5.
Texas Tech is being outscored 37-33 this season. Texas Tech is #112 in points allowed. The Red Raiders average 498 yards per game on offense including 327 passing and 170 rushing yards per game. Texas Tech is #17 in passing and #28 in total offense nationally. On defense, Texas Tech is allowing 433 yards per game including 135 passing and 298 rushing yards per game. The Red Raiders have 6 turnovers this season and forced 2 of their own. Texas Tech is averaging 88 penalty yards per game and opponents are averaging 31 per game. The Red Raiders are 20/40 on third and fourth down conversions and opponents are 27/58. Texas Tech has forced 3 sacks and hasn’t allowed a sack yet. The Red Raiders are 11/13 scoring in the red zone with 10 touchdowns and opponents are 16/17 with 12 touchdowns.
Texas Tech quarterback Davis Webb has completed 64.8% of his passes for 982 yards with 10 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, plus he also has a rushing touchdown.Running back DeAndre Washington has 40 carries for 214 yards with a touchdown, plus 8 catches for 53 yards. Justin Stockton has 20 carries for 180 yards with 2 touchdowns, plus 4 catches. Bradley Marquez has 18 catches for 251 yards and 5 touchdowns. Jakeem Grant has 20 catches for 283 yards and a touchdown. Reginald Davis has 12 catches for 152 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Oklahoma State is outscoring teams 38-24 this season. The Cowboys are averaging 440 total yards per game on offense, including 264 passing yards and 176 rushing yards. On defense, the Cowboys are allowing 352 total yards per game on defense, including 111 rushing yards and 241 passing yards. Oklahoma St is +1 in turnovers with 3 takeaways. The Cowboys are averaging 53 penalty yards per game and opponents are averaging 72. The Cowboys are 22/52 on third and fourth down conversions, and opponents are 12/48. OSU has forced 10 sacks and allowed 7. The Pokes are 14/14 scoring in the red zone with 7 touchdowns, and their opponents are 8/10 with two touchdowns. The Cowboys have a pick six and have allowed one as well.
OSU quarterback Daxx Garman took over against Missouri State for an injured J.W. Walsh who later had season ending ankle surgery. Garman has completed 57.1% of his passes for 559 yards and 4 touchdowns. Receiver Tyreek Hill has world class sprinter’s speed and has 23 carries for 135 yards, plus 9 catches for 76 yards. He is also a dangerous return man. Running back Rennie Childs has 35 carries for 130 yards and 2 touchdowns. Desmond Roland has 33 carries for 123 yards and 3 touchdowns. Receiver Brandon Sheperd has 7 catches for 178 yards and 2 touchdowns. David Glidden has 8 catches for 165 yards and 1 touchdown. Jhajuan Seales has 7 catches for 155 yards and a touchdown.
Texas Tech is 10-4-1 ATS after a double digit home loss, 2-5 against teams with winning home records, 7-20 after a straight up loss by 20 points or more, 3-14 after allowing 200 rushing yards or more, 1-5 against teams with winning records, 1-6 after a straight up loss, 1-7 after allowing 40 points or more, 1-8 after a straight up loss, and overall, 0-5 in conference games and after allowing more than 450 total yards, and on fieldturf, and 0-4 in road games.
Oklahoma State is 6-1 ATS in Big 12 games, 5-1 after a cover, 4-1 in Thursday games, 12-3 at home, 7-2 after a straight up win of 20 points or more, 6-2 against teams with winning road records, 5-2 after scoring more than 40 points and gaining more than 450 total yards, 7-3 on fieldturf, 35-16 after passing for more than 280 yards, 36-17-1 after a straight up win, 35-17 overall, and 0-4 after allowing less than 275 total yards. The favorite is 5-1 ATS in this series recently. The Cowboys have covered the last 5 games against the Red Raiders and are 4-0 ATS in the series in Stillwater.
While both of these teams are 2-1, make no mistake, they are going in opposite directions. Texas Tech barely escaped with wins over Central Arkansas and UTEP, and then were destroyed by Arkansas. The Razorbacks ran for over 400 yards in that contest. Oklahoma State opened some eyes when they gave defending national champion Florida State everything they could handle. The Cowboys should feast on the porous Red Raider defense. OSU wins going away in a high scoring game.
Our college football handicappers are red hot this season and are on a big winners run.
