Two programs tied together by one of the most notable names in modern college football will meet on Saturday night at Gesa Field in Pullman, Washington as Texas Tech visits Washington State (10:00 pm ET, FOX).
Before his untimely death in December 2022, Mike Leach spent the final three seasons of his coaching career at Mississippi State. But before he took the Air Raid to Starkville, he first took it to Texas Tech for ten seasons from 2000 to 2009 and then to Washington State for eight seasons from 2012 to 2019.
On Saturday, Leach will be inducted into Washington State’s Hall of Fame, which makes it only fitting that two of his former schools will face off that night.
Will they honor the man known as “The Pirate” with a high-scoring shootout? Read on for a Texas Tech-Washington State prediction and expert picks for the matchup between the Red Raiders and Cougars.
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Texas Tech vs Washington State Betting Analysis
With the total set well in the 60s, the expectation is that there will be plenty of points in Pullman.
Season openers against FCS schools don’t say much, but based on what both teams did last week, the prospects for points are high.
Texas Tech jumped on Abilene Christian early, scoring three first-quarter touchdowns and piling up 32 points in the first half.
But after trailing by double digits at the end of each of the first three quarters, the Wildcats rallied to force overtime with a late field goal. Texas Tech found the end zone first in overtime to go up 52-45, but Abilene Christian responded with a touchdown of their own. Instead of going for the extra point, the Wildcats went for two and the win, but the Red Raiders survived for a wild win in west Texas.
Texas Tech QB Behren Morton put up a stat line Leach would have been proud of, completing 30 of 42 passes for 378 yards and five touchdowns, while Tahj Brooks ran for 153 yards and a score.
However, the Red Raiders were outgained 615-539, with ACU QB Maverick McIvor completing 36 of 51 passes for 506 yards and three scores.
That doesn’t bode well for Texas Tech for this week, given what John Mateer and Washington State did against Portland State in a 70-30 victory.
In his first collegiate start, Mateer was 11 of 17 for 352 yards and five touchdowns, and the Cougars racked up 637 total yards (413 passing, 224 rushing).
Like Texas Tech against Abilene Christian, Washington State held a 22-7 lead over Portland State after one quarter. But there was no comeback by the Vikings, as the Cougars had 63 points on the board just over five minutes into the second half.
Texas Tech vs Washington State Prediction & Picks
The obvious thing to do here is to take the over, even if it rises a point or two before kickoff.
But which of Leach’s former schools will pull out the win in Pullman? Mateer may not have a wealth of experience as a starter, but Texas Tech’s defensive performance against Abilene Christian left a lot to be desired, to say the least. He’ll have to sling it around more than he did against Portland State to rack up big yards but expect him to do just that and for the Cougars to cap a memorable day in the perfect way.
Texas Tech vs Washington State Prediction: Washington State to win
Texas Tech vs Washington State Picks: 1) Washington State ML, 2) Texas Tech/Washington State over 66
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