Bowl Projections: Why Texas Tech won’t see Aggies in Texas Bowl

The latest round of bowl projections are out and the consensus seems to be that Texas Tech will be headed to the Texas Bowl to face a SEC team.  But the experts are misguided if the think the opponent will be Texas A&M.

As the college football season enters its final three weeks of the regular season, the bowl picture is beginning to come into focus.  And after two-consecutive losses, the Red Raiders seem to be headed to the Texas Bowl in Houston for the second time since 2015.

ESPN.com,  CBSSports.com, the Orlando Sentinel, 247Sports.com, Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News,  the College Football News and Athlon Sports all project Texas Tech to play their bowl game at NRG Stadium in Houston on  Dec. 27 at 9 p.m. on ESPN.

But where the story becomes interesting is that ESPN, 247Sports, Sports Illustrated and The College Football News project a rematch with the Texas A&M Aggies.  This would certainly be the most anticipated bowl game in Texas Tech history as the two schools have not faced off since 2011.

But this scenario will likely remain just a fantasy.  Last year, there were several scenarios in play that would have made sense for Texas Tech or Texas to face off with A&M but reports were released saying that the Aggies did not want to play their former Big 12 rivals.

If that was true a season ago, it likely remains true again in 2018.  Despite what the so-called experts may predict, don’t expect to see the 71st meeting between the Red Raiders and the Aggies this season or anytime soon.

More from Wreck'Em Red

• Texas Tech football: Red Raider fans need to know about these Mountaineers
• Texas Tech football: Red Raiders land first commit for class of 2025
• Texas Tech football: Why have the Red Raiders struggled on the road under McGuire?
• Texas Tech football: Why the Red Raiders can compete for a Big 12 title
• Texas Tech football: Plenty of questions remain as conference play arrives

As for the other bowl possibilities, ESPN (which has two experts give their predictions) and CBS Sports have Auburn as the opponent in Houston.  This would be a classic matchup of opposites as Auburn ranks 37th in the nation in total defense but just 90th in total offense.

It would be an interesting homecoming for Auburn’s junior QB Jarrett Stidham.  The native from Stephenville, TX was committed to Texas Tech for the majority of the 2015 recruiting cycle before he decomitted to sign with Baylor.  He then would transfer to the JUCO ranks after one year in Waco before landing at Auburn last season.

If Auburn is not the opponent, perhaps the Red Raiders could see Mississippi State bookending their season with the two SEC schools from the Magnolia State as the Orlando Sentinel projects.  Tech and MSU have played seven times with the Bulldogs holding a 4-2-1 advantage.  The last meeting took place in 1970 but these schools are set to see one another for a home-and-home series in 2028-2029.

If that matchup does not happen, The Sporting News’  prediction of a matchup with South Carolina may become reality.  The Gamecocks are 5-3 overall and are coming off a 48-44 win over Ole Miss, which beat the Red Raiders in the season opener.   The two programs have never met on the football field.

Playing in the Texas Bowl would make most Red Raider fans happy.  The game would likely be a virtual home game for Tech but one must wonder if there will be as much interest from Houston area Red Raider fans who already got to see their team in their city once this year.

Texas Tech has played in the Texas Bowl twice since its origin in 2006.  The Red Raiders beat Minnesota 34-31 in 2012 and lost to LSU 56-27 in 2015.

If the Red Raiders end the season in the same stadium that they opened it in, it will be a nice way for Houston area seniors like Dakota Allen, John Bonney and DeMarcus Felton to end their careers.  Just don’t expect them to to go out with a game against the Aggies.