West Virginia (6-5, 5-3 in Big 12) is set to face Texas Tech (7-4, 5-3) this Saturday at 12 p.m. EST, with the game broadcasted on FS1. Currently, BetMGM lists Texas Tech as a 3.5-point favorite. Historically, West Virginia holds a slight edge in their series with a record of 7-6 against Texas Tech.
Both teams are battling to keep their slim chances of making it to the Big 12 championship game alive, as they require a victory along with favorable outcomes in other matches. West Virginia’s head coach, Neal Brown, is under pressure, and securing a win on the road would bolster his case for remaining in his position, particularly as it would mean a perfect 4-0 record in away conference games this season.
A key focal point of the matchup will be Texas Tech’s quarterback, Behren Morton, who will be tested against West Virginia’s struggling pass defense. In a recent game against Oklahoma State, Morton delivered an impressive performance, completing 37 of 53 throws for 404 yards and four touchdowns. This week, he is on track to surpass the 3,000-yard mark in passing for the season, having already thrown for 25 touchdowns alongside seven interceptions. However, West Virginia’s defense has been vulnerable, conceding numerous long pass plays due to miscommunication, with an alarming average of 14.3 yards allowed per completion—ranking them last among Power Five schools.
Key players to keep an eye on include Texas Tech’s linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, who leads the Big 12 with 112 total tackles, including 68 solo tackles. Rodriguez had a standout moment against Oklahoma State, recording 13 tackles, marking the seventh time this season he has reached double digits in tackles. He also contributed a recovery of a fumble for a touchdown in the final minutes and secured a game-ending interception.
On West Virginia’s side, quarterback Garrett Greene is noteworthy as he leads the Big 12 in rushing for quarterbacks, accumulating 649 yards thus far. Nonetheless, he has faced difficulties in the passing game, maintaining a completion percentage of 55.5% with 12 touchdown passes against nine interceptions.
In terms of statistics, West Virginia has struggled in the second half, being outscored in nine of their eleven games this season. Texas Tech will aim for their third consecutive win over West Virginia in Lubbock, seeking their first eight-win regular season since 2009. The Red Raiders have achieved a unique feat this season, recording seven games with both a 100-yard rusher and a 100-yard receiver—leading all FBS teams. Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech’s all-time leading rusher, has crossed the 100-yard mark in all ten games played this season, equalizing the single-season record at the university, which previously belonged to legends Byron Hanspard and Bam Morris. While West Virginia has secured bowl eligibility for the fourth time in six seasons under Brown, Texas Tech has met this milestone in each of coach Joey McGuire’s three years.