NCAAF: TEXAS TECH BACK IN THE FRAY
The Texas Tech Red Raiders stunned top-ranked Texas in an epic contest, but there’s little time to celebrate with Oklahoma State coming to town.
Texas Tech has opened as just three-point favorites for another Big 12 heavyweight matchup. This is just one of the Week 11 early lines you can find at Sportsbook.com so check out all the odds and get your bets in before the lines move.
The surprising element about Texas Tech’s 39-33 win over Texas was the way they controlled the game. Tech out-gained the Longhorns 579 to 374 in total yards and time of possession was 37 minutes to 23. That dominance jumped the Red Raiders from seventh in the BCS Standings all the way to second.
That’s not to say getting past #9 Oklahoma State is going to be easy. The Cowboys gave Texas everything they could handle at home and beat Missouri on the road. They also have the fifth-rated rushing attack in the nation, which will be useful to control the clock and keep quarterback Graham Harrell on the sidelines.
Alabama has the #1 ranking in the regular season for the first time since 1980 when Bear Bryant was coaching, The Tide have a very tough game at LSU as slim 3 ½-point favorites.
This game is more than just about the football matchup as Alabama Coach Nick Saban returns to LSU for the first time since leaving them as Head Coach.
Saban won a national title for the Tigers before going to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, but he’s the hated enemy now. LSU would love to ruin their national title hopes even if the SEC West division is likely sewn up either way.
Penn State is 3rd in the BCS and that means they could find themselves on the outside looking in at a national title even if they remain undefeated. The Nittany Lions need to stay focused this week as they travel to a tough road venue in Iowa as 7 ½-point chalk.
Florida (BCS #5) is one of the hottest teams in college football, beating LSU, Kentucky and Georgia by an average margin of 42 points. They are 23 ½-point favorites at a Vandy team that has lost three straight after opening at 5-0.
USC actually dropped in the BCS this week from #5 to #7 as Florida and Texas Tech jumped ahead of them. That really hurts their chances at a national title shot, and they must make another statement this Saturday as they host #21 California as 17 ½-point chalk.
The Thursday night game is the best one we’ve seen in a while as Utah is a 2 ½-point home dog against TCU. Both teams are out of the MWC Conference with Utah undefeated and ranked 8th.
TCU (BCS #12) is undefeated in conference play and their only loss of the year was at Oklahoma. TCU also easily handled the other top team in the MVC, beating BYU 32-7, and the oddsmakers are giving them a lot of respect in this game.
