Texas Tech football vs. TCU: Latest odds and prediction

Today, the Texas Tech football team is in Fort Worth to face in-state rival TCU. Of course, the Red Raiders are looking to rebound from last week's unfathomable 59-35 loss to Baylor in Lubbock.

Meanwhile, TCU enters this game 4-3 overall and 2-2 in Big 12 play. The Horned Frogs are coming off of a 13-7 win at Utah last week.

For the Red Raiders, this game is crucial because it is the start of a tough stretch of games that will also see Tech travel to No. 10 Iowa State next week before hosting a dangerous Colorado team on November 9. Thus, if the Red Raiders want to stay in the Big 12 title conversation, they will have to win today at Amon G. Carter Stadium, something they haven't done since 2018.

Texas Tech vs. TCU: Latest Odds

All odds courtesy of FanDuel.com.

Texas Tech vs. TCU prediction

After a game that saw an average Baylor offense have its way with the Texas Tech defense a week ago, TCU isn't exactly the team Red Raider fans want to see next on the schedule. This isn't Gary Patterson's TCU program anymore as Sonny Dykes has instilled an offense-first mindset in Fort Worth.

The Frogs are putting up 431.9 yards of offense per game this year. What's most worrysome, though, are the 331.4 yards per game they gain through the air. That's good for 5th in the NCAA.

Unfortunately, Tech is second to last in the nation in pass defense giving up over 303 yards per game. No power conference team in America is more susceptible to aerial assaults.

Today, the Red Raiders will have to make a choice on defense. Will they sit back and rush only three or four players and try to keep the trio of electric TCU wide receivers from picking up tons of yards after the catch as is their modus operandi? That plan didn't work well last week against Baylor as the Bears were able to pick the Tech secondary apart given that the Red Raiders simply are incapable of generating a pass rush with only three or four players.

However, if Tech decides to send extra pressure at the Frogs, they will be asking their defensive backs to play on islands against receivers who major in taking short passes and turning them into chunk plays with yards after the catch. Thus, defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter has to pick his poison and that's a frightening proposition given that TCU QB Josh Hoover leads the Big 12 in passing.

Of course, the Red Raider offense will have to do its part, unlike last week. Can the offensive line do what it couldn't against the Bears and dominate in the run game so that Tahj Brooks can have a huge day and help the Red Raiders control the clock and keep the TCU offense on the sidelines?

TCU can be run on. They rank just 93rd nationally against the run giving up 164.1 yards per game on the ground.

Today, Tech will need to exploit that weakness to dictate the style of play and keep the TCU offense from getting into a rhythm. If Brooks goes for 150 yards or more, the Red Raiders will have an opportunity to come away with the win.

In the end, though, TCU has the greater margin for error in this game given that they have the better defense. While college football is often a week-to-week proposition, it is hard to forget what we saw a week ago out of the Red Raider defense, and because of that, I don't know how anyone could think that Tech will come up with enough stops to win this game.

TCU's biggest weakness on offense has been turnovers. In fact, in four games this year they have had at least two giveaways. If they play a clean game today at home, and I fear they will given how poor Tech's pass rush is, then the Frogs should defend their home turf.

Final score: TCU 40 - Tech 34