BYU Faces Texas Tech in Crucial Big 12 Showdown

LUBBOCK, Texas — The No. 7 BYU Cougars will take on the No. 8 Texas Tech Red Raiders on Saturday at noon ET in a crucial Week 11 matchup in the Big 12. The game will determine first place in the conference as both teams vie for playoff positioning.

BYU comes into the match with a perfect record of 8-0 and 5-0 in the Big 12. The Cougars are coming off a win against Iowa State, 41-27, and had a bye week before this showdown. They are one of only four undefeated teams remaining in college football.

Texas Tech holds an 8-1 record, with a 5-1 Big 12 status, and is fresh off a 43-20 victory over Kansas State. The Red Raiders are 11.5-point favorites in this contest, with the over/under for points set at 49.5. Winds of up to 20 MPH could impact scoring.

BYU has a strong turnover margin of +10 this season and has recorded at least one takeaway in 22 consecutive games. Their quarterback, a true freshman, has thrown and rushed for touchdowns in four straight games. This prowess could pose a problem for Texas Tech, which has struggled with turnovers recently, having given the ball away in seven consecutive games.

Texas Tech, on the other hand, boasts an impressive offensive record, ranking third in scoring and fifth in total yards per game this season. They have consistently scored over 40 points in their home games at Jones AT&T Stadium, averaging 51.6 points per outing.

Defensively, Texas Tech holds a strong reputation as well, allowing just 13.2 points per game despite the absence of star defensive player Skyler Gill-Howard. Their top linebacker leads the nation with 11.5 sacks and has made 14 tackles for loss this season.

This matchup could be pivotal not only for the conference standings but also as both teams aim for college football playoff consideration. As the teams prepare to clash, fans and analysts are eager to see which squad emerges to claim the top spot in the Big 12.

The latest projections from various models, including SportsLine’s, lean towards an over on total points, predicting the teams will combine for 61 points.

The atmosphere at Jones AT&T Stadium is expected to be electric as BYU looks to extend its 10-game winning streak, which is the second-longest in FBS behind Ohio State‘s streak.