The Texas Longhorns play their first Big 12 game since the school announced it would be leaving the conference for the SEC when they host the Texas Tech Red Raiders on Saturday at Royal-Memorial Stadium in Austin. Last month Texas and Oklahoma informed the Big 12 that they would be leaving the conference that they co-founded and received invitations to join the SEC. That has left the eight remaining Big 12 schools, including Texas Tech, scrambling to secure their future and makes the Longhorns and Sooners even bigger targets for the jilted schools.
Kickoff between Texas (2-1) and Texas Tech (3-0) is noon ET. The Longhorns are nine-point favorites in the latest Texas vs. Texas Tech odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is 62.5. Before locking in any Texas Tech vs. Texas picks and college football predictions, make sure you check out what the proven SportsLine Projection Model has to say.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $3,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It also enters Week 4 of the 2021 season on a 72-58 run on all top-rated college football picks. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now the model has dialed in on Texas vs. Texas Tech and just revealed its picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's Texas vs. Texas Tech picks and analysis. Now, here are the college football odds and betting lines for Texas Tech vs. Texas:
- Texas vs. Texas Tech spread: Longhorns -9
- Texas vs. Texas Tech over-under: 62.5 points
- Texas vs. Texas Tech moneyline: Longhorns -380, Red Raiders +300
- TEX: RB Bijan Robinson leads the Big 12 in touchdowns (six)
- TTU: WR Erik Ezukanma is first in the conference in receiving yards per game (116.7)
Why the Longhorns can cover
Texas has one of the best -- if not the best -- running backs in the country in Bijan Robinson. A 6-foot sophomore from Tucson, Ariz., Robinson has rushed for 1,002 yards and nine touchdowns on 138 carries in his career, averaging 7.3 yards per attempt. He also has 287 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 21 receptions. In last week's victory against Rice, Robinson helped the Longhorns run for 428 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 10.4 yards per carry.
In addition, the Texas defense is coming off its best performance of the season. The Longhorns allowed zero points and 284 total yards to the Owls. The shutout was Texas' first since 2017.
Why the Red Raiders can cover
Erik Ezukanma is a playmaking receiver who is arguably the best wideout in the Big 12. A 6-foot-3 junior from Fort Worth, Texas, who was a preseason all-conference selection, Ezukanma leads the Big 12 and ranks ninth in the country in receiving yards per game (116.7). Over his career he has caught 106 passes for 1,810 yards and 12 touchdowns.
In addition, Texas Tech faces a Texas offensive line that has struggled allowing pressure this season. In the season opener against Louisiana, the Longhorns gave up three sacks. The following week at Arkansas, they allowed three more and allowed quarterback Hudson Card to be harassed all game. And last week against Rice, quarterback Casey Thompson threw an interception when he was hit by an oncoming rusher.
How to make Texas vs. Texas Tech picks
SportsLine's model is leaning over on the point total, projecting the teams to combine for 68 points. The model also has an against-the-spread pick that cashes in well over 50 percent of simulations. You can only see the model's Texas vs. Texas Tech ATS pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Texas vs. Texas Tech? And which side of the spread cashes in well over 50 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Texas Tech vs. Texas spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that finished the past five-plus years up nearly $3,000 on its FBS college football picks, and find out.