The University of South Florida is no stranger to success in the Birmingham Bowl, as the program will be looking to garner the title for the second year in a row. Battling the Bulls this season is Texas Tech in a December 23 showdown.
Sportsbook opened the Bulls as 3-point favorites with a total of 66.5.
- Texas Tech is 6-1 SU in its last seven games in December.
- The total has gone OVER in five of Texas Tech’s last six games in the postseason.
- The total has gone OVER in South Florida’s last three games in the postseason.
This is the third year in a row that USF has qualified for the postseason, and it’s the best team the school has put forth in a while. The Bulls narrowly lost to UCF in one of the best games of the season which kept them from the AAC title game and a shot at a New Year’s Day bowl. Quinton Flowers is an excellent quarterback and the offense is deadly, so expect them to show up big for this one.
The Red Raiders are making their second bowl appearance in the last three years but they haven’t won one since beating Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl in 2013. The defense – a major issue over the past few years – stepped up in 2017 and the offense kept its head above water to keep them relevant. They’re still far from being a top-tier Big 12 contender, but this was an encouraging season for them.
When Texas Tech plays in the postseason, the OVER is trending. In the Red Raiders’ last three bowl appearances, the OVER is 3-0.
A 47-26 result in favor of the Bulls was the prediction by the OddsShark handicapping pick engine earlier this week. Check the picks page or matchup report during the week as factors may cause that prediction to be re-run. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NCAAF matchups here.
Texas Tech Red Raiders vs USF Bulls Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The USF Bulls are 9-2 so far on the season, and 5-6 vs the point spread. The Texas Tech Red Raiders, meanwhile, are 6-6 and 6-5-1 ATS. Those OVER/UNDER betting have seen USF go 4-7 and the Texas Tech go 4-8 on the totals. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and USF vs Texas Tech injuries news.
This game matches up the No. 24 (USF Bulls) and the No. 79 (Texas Tech Red Raiders) teams in the league, according to our current NCAA football Power Rankings at OddsShark.
Statistical Matchup
The game also pits USF's No. 16-ranked offense, averaging 38.27 PPG, against a Texas Tech defense that ranks No. 97 this week at 31.75 PPG. The USF aerial game is averaging 243.27 yards per game, less than the Texas Tech secondary allows through the air, 279.75 YPG per game.
Defensively, the Red Raiders feature the league's No. 31-rated road run defense, allowing 137.33 yards per game. USF, meanwhile, ranks No. 22 in rushing offense at home.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Keke Coutee was good for 168 receiving yards in the Red Raiders' most recent action, helping his team to a 27-23 victory over the Longhorns.
Quinton Flowers' 503-yard performance through the air wasn't enough last time out, as UCF earned a 49-42 win over USF on Friday at Bright House Networks Stadium.
