Texas Tech Red Raiders - NCAA Football Odds, Lines & Betting

The Red Raiders were one of college football’s most exciting teams in 2006, and that excitement translated to an 8-5 record and a trip to the Insight Bowl. The excitement continued there, where Texas Tech came back from 31 points down to beat Minnesota 44-41. Coach Mike Leach has only four returning starters on offense, but with Graham Harrell at the helm, anything is possible. The quarterback steered the Red Raiders to the nation’s sixth-ranked attack, and they were third in the country in the air. 

Michael Crabtree and Danny Amendola will step into the starting roles at receiver, but the Red Raiders will need better balance to their offense after three starters graduated from the receiving corps.  Running back Shannon Woods, if he can stay motivated, will play a huge role in the offense.  There is only one starter back on the offensive line, so Harrell may have to make his reads a little quicker until the group can gel. Five starters are back on defense, and the Red Raiders were 58th in the NCAA in total defense last season. Three of those come in the secondary, which is also the deepest unit on the team. Joe Garcia and Darcel McBath will have to be leaders from the safety position, because the entire defensive line from 2006 is gone. Early talk is that Clint Stoffels was impressive in spring practice, which could give Texas Tech a decent pass rush.

The kickoff-return unit must get better, coming in second last in the nation last season, but the third-ranked punting group is in good hands.  The Red Raiders avoid Nebraska on the schedule, but they travel to Missouri and Texas, while hosting Texas A&M and Oklahoma. Harrell is a talented quarterback, but the losses on defense may be too severe for the Red Raiders to equal their 2006 performance.

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