Texas Tech vs West Virginia Prediction: Can the Red Raiders Clinch CFP Bid?
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There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to College Football Playoff rankings, except that the five highest-ranked conference champions are in – the committee could name Oklahoma State No. 1 if it wanted to.
However, going by how this group has rolled over the years, Texas Tech is all but locked into a CFP spot with a win.
The 10-1 Red Raiders were fifth in the latest rankings, and even if they get knocked down a bit for whatever reason, they’re not on the bubble like Notre Dame, Alabama, BYU, and Miami.
The committee doesn’t “punish” teams for losing a conference championship, but it does elevate teams that do win a title. So if Texas Tech wins and gets to the Big 12 Championship, it’s in.
If it loses this, though, then everything changes.
Texas Tech vs West Virginia Preview
A West Virginia team with nothing to lose isn’t the team you want to face on the road.
If it’s possible, the Mountaineers have had a successful losing season under Rich Rodriguez. They’re 4-7, but the signs are there that big things are coming soon.
This is their bowl game, and this is their chance to come up with a whopper of a program-builder going into the offseason.
How To Watch Texas Tech vs West Virginia
Date: Saturday, November 29, 2025
Game Time: 12:00 PM ET
TV: FOX
Location: Milan Puskar Stadium, Morgantown, WV
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Why Texas Tech Will Win
This Texas Tech defensive front is no joke.
Everyone laughs about the million-dollar defensive line, but it’s been worth whatever it took to get all of these parts together.
The pass rushing tandem of David Bailey and Romello Height has been a terror throughout, and while there are certainly more talented defensive players in the country, no one is having a better season than linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.
West Virginia has to run well to win, and it has to do the impossible and be fantastic against the nation’s No. 1 run defense. However …
Why West Virginia Will Win
Yeah, Texas Tech is No. 1 in the nation against the run, and it did stuff and stomp on Utah, which has the second-best rushing attack in the country behind Navy, but if this West Virginia thing gets working, look out.
It’s like being a home run hitter and trying to deal with a knuckleball pitcher. Everything can still work, but it’s not ideal.
It’s not that West Virginia can’t or doesn’t throw, but the entire point of this style of offense is to come up with big, gashing runs that take over games.
Granted, even when the thing works, that doesn’t mean the team wins, but if it’s at least competent, this team’s passing game works far better.
The problem, though, is …
Texas Tech vs West Virginia Prediction, Betting Lines
West Virginia needs to get to at least 350 yards of total offense to pull this off, and Texas Tech allowed over 325 yards once – and that was the lone loss to Arizona State.
At home, in the final game of the season, the Mountaineers will come out hot. The offense will work on the first two drives, and then Texas Tech will have it measured.
The Texas Tech running game will be fine, but the offense as a whole will be more efficient and effective than fantastic.
It won’t always be easy, but Texas Tech won’t care as it gets ready for the Big 12 Championship.
Texas Tech 40, West Virginia 17
Line: Texas Tech -23.5, o/u: 52.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
Must See Rating: 3
Consensus Line from BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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Related: Arizona vs Arizona State Prediction: Transitional Territorial Cup Game
This story was originally published by College Football News on Nov 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add College Football News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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