Week 11 of the college football season brings a premier Big 12 matchup between Colorado and Texas Tech. Can the Red Raiders upset a Top 25 team for the 2nd straight week? Check out our best bet below!
Most online sports betting apps installed Colorado as a three-point favorite on Sunday afternoon when the lines came out. Some sharp money has come in on the Buffaloes to push the point spread up to Colorado -3.5. That move came despite Texas Tech's impressive upset win at Iowa State last weekend.
As for the total, oddsmakers are expecting a good old-fashioned Big 12 shootout. The number opened at 62 and has been pushed up to 63 at a few online sportsbooks. That line seems about right for these two high-powered offenses.
Coach Prime's Colorado squad should be well-rested after enjoying a bye week last Saturday. The Buffaloes have continued to surpass all preseason expectations this season, as they currently sit at 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the conference.
Colorado ranks inside the Top 40 in key metrics like points per game, third-down conversion rate, and yards per pass. The two key players for the Buffs are QB Shedeur Sanders and CB/WR Travis Hunter. Sanders has thrown for 2,591 yards and 21 touchdowns and Hunter has racked up 757 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns.
The Colorado offense gets all of the attention, but the biggest improvements for this team have come on the defensive side of the ball. The Buffs rank 30th in points per game allowed and a respectable 42nd in yards per pass allowed. Three different defensive ends have registered three sacks this season for Colorado.
Texas Tech stunned Iowa State last weekend by handing the Cyclones their first loss of the season. QB Behren Morton overcame two interceptions to throw for 237 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Red Raiders got outstanding performances from RB Tahj Brooks and WR Josh Kelly.
The Red Raiders once again have a potent offense this season, as they're averaging a robust 34.5 points per game. They've been especially good in the red zone, as their scoring percentage once they get inside the 20-yard line ranks 5th in the country. Despite two turnovers last week in Ames, Morton has only thrown 5 picks on the year.
Texas Tech has struggled on the defensive end this season. They rank just 100th in yards per pass allowed and 124th in passing yards allowed in 2024. That said, both CJ Baskerville and Champman Lewis have hauled in 3 interceptions this season.
Colorado should come out fired up for this one since they're coming off a bye and had two weeks to prepare for Texas Tech. On the other hand, the Red Raiders expended a lot of emotional energy in their 23-22 victory over Iowa State last Saturday.
I could be wrong, but the Red Raiders could be a bit flat to start this game. I'm sure the betting public will be all over Colorado because of the allure of Coach Prime, but that doesn't really bother me in this spot. Look for the Buffs to have lots of success with their passing game and for them to win quite comfortably.
Prediction: Colorado 35 - Texas Tech 24