Line Keeps Leaning on History, Favoring Texas Tech Over WVU Football

A 2-1 record and coming off a big win against an arch rival is not enough for this WVU football team to impress oddsmakers this week. The Mountaineers are currently considered significant underdogs to Texas Tech at home.

Bettors seem to be aligning themselves with the trend of recent history over what’s actually going on this season. Most sportsbooks, like BetRivers, Caesars and DraftKings for example, have Texas Tech as a six-point favorite. FanDuel even has the Red Raiders at 6.5.

Despite being predicted by some to win just a few games all year, Neal Brown has his team entering Big 12 play with a winning record. West Virginia’s first conference opponent can’t say the same.

Texas Tech will enter the game at 1-2, having lost back-to-back games to start the season before winning last week. The Red Raiders suffered losses to Wyoming and Oregon and just beat Tarleton State. WVU has two straight wins over Duquesne and Pitt after falling to Penn State to kickoff the season.

Texas Tech won the 2022 matchup 48-10, triggering the end of JT Daniels’ time as West Virginia’s starting quarterback.

Red Raiders Pass, Run All Over Mountaineers, Decimating West Virginia 48-10

So if history means anything, it then makes sense to favor Texas Tech. Brown has actually never been able to beat the Red Raiders, a program he once worked for, since arriving in Morgantown. The last WVU football win against Texas Tech came in 2018.

History is just history though, and the 2023 Mountaineers have a different roster than the 2022, 2021 or any other version. Texas Tech looks quite different as well. Which 2023 team is better will be exposed one way or another on Saturday evening.

Kickoff between West Virginia and Texas Tech is set for 3:30 pm ET from Milan Puskar Stadium.