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Texas Tech Football: Game-by-game predictions for the Red Raiders’ 2023 season

By Conner Disotelle

Oct 22, 2022; Lubbock, Texas, USA; The Texas Tech Red Raiders enter the field before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2022; Lubbock, Texas, USA; The Texas Tech Red Raiders enter the field before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Texas Tech Red Raiders’ football program surpassed expectations last season, capping an impressive 2022 campaign with a dominant 42-25 victory over the Ole Miss Rebels in the TaxAct Texas Bowl. Texas Tech finished the season with an 8-5 record and posted a 5-4 mark against Big 12 opponents, which was the Red Raiders’ first winning conference record since 2009.

Now, Texas Tech won’t be sneaking up on anyone, as some analysts have labeled the Red Raiders as a dark horse to win the Big 12 in 2023. That being said, Texas Tech’s schedule for the 2023 campaign is a gauntlet, as seven of the Red Raiders’ 12 opponents posted eight or more wins last season. Texas Tech’s path to a third straight bowl game won’t be easy, but the Red Raiders have reason to believe they will achieve that feat.

How will Texas Tech fare in 2023? Here is a look at how the Red Raiders’ 2023 football season will unfold game-by-game:

Sept. 2 – at Wyoming Cowboys

Winning a road game against Wyoming won’t be a cakewalk for Texas Tech, but it’s very doable. The Red Raiders will get off to a slow start and fall into an early 17-3 hole, but will rally and outscore the Cowboys 42-14 from that point on.

Final Score Prediction: Texas Tech 45, Wyoming 31

Projected Record: 1-0

Sept. 9 – vs. Oregon Ducks

Most analysts aren’t high on Texas Tech’s chances of beating Oregon, but this contest won’t be a rout. The Red Raiders will keep pace with the Ducks during the first three quarters, but Oregon will pull away late.

Final Score Prediction: Oregon 38, Texas Tech 28

Projected Record: 1-1

Sept. 16 – vs. Tarleton State Texans

To be completely frank, this is the lone cupcake game on Texas Tech’s slate in 2023. The Red Raiders will be sitting starters early in the second half of this contest.

Final Score Prediction: Texas Tech 62, Tarleton State 35

Projected Record: 2-1

Sept. 23 – at West Virginia Mountaineers

West Virginia won’t be very good in 2023, but it would be foolish of Texas Tech to overlook the Mountaineers. The Red Raiders wind up getting into an unexpected shootout with West Virginia, but will ultimately top the Mountaineers with a last-second field goal.

Final Score Prediction: Texas Tech 41, West Virginia 38

Projected Record: 3-1 (1-0 in Big 12)

Sept. 30 – vs. Houston Cougars

Texas Tech has emerged victorious in each of its last five clashes with Houston. The Red Raiders will welcome their new Big 12 foes to the conference by handing the Cougars a gut-wrenching loss.

Final Score Prediction: Texas Tech 31, Houston 30

Projected Record: 4-1 (2-0 in Big 12)

Oct. 7 – at Baylor Bears

Texas Tech suffered a lopsided 45-17 loss to Baylor last season, but should put up a better fight this time around. The Red Raiders get off to a hot start and jump out to an early 20-7 lead, but falter badly in the second half.

Final Score Prediction: Baylor 34, Texas Tech 23

Projected Record: 4-2 (2-1 in Big 12)

Oct. 14 – vs. Kansas State Wildcats

TCU had a memorable run to the 2023 CFP National Championship Game, but it was Kansas State that won the Big 12 Conference last season. The Wildcats, who haven’t lost to Texas Tech since 2015, will coast to a comfortable two-possession victory over the Red Raiders.

Final Score Prediction: Kansas State 41, Texas Tech 30

Projected Record: 4-3 (2-2 in Big 12)

Oct. 21 – at BYU Cougars

This will be the first meeting between Texas Tech and BYU since 1940. The Cougars figure out how to slow down the Red Raiders’ pass rush, but have no answers for Texas Tech’s speed in this contest, which winds up being the deciding factor.

Final Score Prediction: Texas Tech 33, BYU 31

Projected Record: 5-3 (3-2 in Big 12)

Nov. 2 – vs. TCU Horned Frogs

Last season, TCU became the first team from the state of Texas to ever play in a College Football Playoff National Championship Game. The Horned Frogs are expected to take a step back, as they did lose some key players in the 2023 NFL Draft, but TCU should still be marginally better than Texas Tech this upcoming season.

Final Score Prediction: TCU 37, Texas Tech 30

Projected Record: 5-4 (3-3 in Big 12)

Nov. 11 – at Kansas Jayhawks

Texas Tech knows what’s at stake in this matchup, as a victory over Kansas would make the Red Raiders bowl eligible for a third straight season. The game isn’t very competitive, but the final score looks respectable because the Jayhawks score two touchdowns in garbage time.

Final Score Prediction: Texas Tech 43, Kansas 34

Projected Record: 6-4 (4-3 in Big 12)

Nov. 18 – vs. UCF Knights

UCF will eventually become a massive problem in the Big 12, as the Knights have a stout recruiting base in the state of Florida and will lure even more prospects now that they’re in a Power Five conference. That being said, Texas Tech currently has a much better roster than UCF and will have little trouble dispatching of the Knights in 2023.

Final Score Prediction: Texas Tech 38, UCF 24

Projected Record: 7-4 (5-3 in Big 12)

Nov. 24 – at Texas Longhorns

Texas may look to abandon its series with Texas Tech after joining the SEC, so this could potentially be the final time the Red Raiders and Longhorns play each other for a while. This game will be a back-and-forth affair, but Texas ultimately prevails over Texas Tech and punches its ticket to the Big 12 Championship Game in the process.

Final Score Prediction: Texas 45, Texas Tech 41

Projected Record: 7-5 (5-4 in Big 12)

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