Can Red Raiders pull off huge upset Saturday over Texas?

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When you take a look at Fox Bet, or any of the other sports books around the country, Texas Tech is not the biggest underdog on the board this weekend in NCAA College Football.

The Red Raiders are currently (Monday evening) a 17.5-point underdog at home against No. 8 Texas, even after they barely held on to beat FCS Houston Baptist (0-2) 35-33 two weeks ago.

Heck, even one of the two top 25 matchups, No. 22 Army at No. 14 Cincinnati (2:30 p.m. CDT), sees the Bearcats as 14-point favorites.

For bettors around the country, this game might look too good to be true.

While Texas Tech was struggling two weeks ago, the Longhorns were busy blasting UTEP, covering the 42-point spread.

To make matters worse for the Red Raiders as they get ready to play this weekend, starting running back SaRodorick Thompson was arrested Monday on a Class B misdemeanor from an incident back in June.

Right now, there looks to be a good chance that Thompson plays, according to the latest story Monday by Rob Breaux on the KFYO.com site. This statement was released Monday evening by the Texas Tech Athletic Department:

“SaRodorick Thompson was notified late last week that there had been a misdemeanor warrant issued in his name. Thompson and his lawyer are currently cooperating with the Lubbock Police Department and have done so since the incident in late June. Texas Tech Athletics will handle the matter consistent with its student-athlete discipline policy and any discipline will be handled internally. Thompson is expected to play in Saturday’s Big 12 opener versus Texas.”

Obviously, if he does not play, this line could move towards the Longhorns, and very quickly. But even if he does play, the time away from practice could prove pivotal, when everything has to go right for the Red Raiders to have a shot in this contest.

In other action Saturday, No. 23 Kentucky takes on No. 8 Auburn (11 a.m. CDT SEC Network) in the other all-top 25 battle on the docket. Number 2 Alabama gets its campaign underway, finally, away to Missouri, before next weekend’s top 10 contest with Texas A&M. The No. 10 Aggies host Vanderbilt Saturday night (6:30 p.m. CDT).

The opening game of the weekend is an intriguing intra-state contest between two 1-1 teams, as UAB visits South Alabama Thursday night (6:30 p.m. ESPN). UAB comes in as a 7.5-point favorite, but lost QB Tyler Johnson III to an arm injury. Also, South Alabama has gone 8-2 in its last 10 as an underdog, something the Jaguars have been in all of its last 12 games.

Prediction:

So can the Red Raiders pull off the upset?

No.

I can’t see past a big win for the Longhorns here. If the line stays around -17.5, that would be great. But I don’t see that happening as the game gets closer to kickoff Saturday (2:30 p.m. CDT FOX and Fubo.tv).

I also like South Alabama as a live dog in the Thursday night contest.

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