Texas vs. Texas Tech point spread: Picking Longhorns vs. Red Raiders

Austin will be home to the primetime Black Friday matchup, with the Texas Longhorns hosting the Texas Tech Red Raiders. A conference showdown with over 70 games in the series, it’s the final one before the 40 Acres officially becomes SEC territory. This one is going to mean a lot to both sides and may be given some extra fuel by Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark.

Texas is fresh off a win against Iowa State although they gave up 323 passing yards to Rocco Becht. Jake Crain, who joined Andy Staples to give his pick for Friday’s game, believes Texas Tech could expose a Longhorn secondary that was poor in Ames.

How to watch Texas vs. Texas Tech

Time: 6:30 p.m. CT (Friday)
Channel: ABC, FuboTV (streaming)
Location: Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium — Austin, TX

“Jonothan Brooks has nothing to do with the secondary getting torched by Iowa State,” Crain said. “Make no mistake — Behren Morton, who replaced Tyler Shough — he’s been playing pretty good. They’ve been winning games. Texas Tech can move the ball through the air. The longer Texas lets them hang on in there, the more Tech is going to believe. But I think Texas finds a way to win.

“I’m going to take Tech to cover the 14, though. This kind of feels like a 41-28 type game. I do think Texas might be able to score. But they better not give Tech hope. Joey McGuire, he can get them ready.”

Andy Staples expresses concern over Big 12 Championship, not Black Friday matchup

Staples does not have a hard time believing Texas will find a way to win big against Texas Tech. After all, they may need to put up some style points for College Football Playoff reasoning. He and Crain agreed Texas is not playing their best football at the moment, which is not the best thing to be saying this time of year.

It’s actually next week in the Big 12 Championship game — something Texas has not officially clinched yet — where Staples has pause. The Longhorns are likely heading to Arlington and facing one of three teams. Could Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Kansas State all be hoping to get a shot at Texas?

“I think Texas covers this one,” Staples said. “I’m worried about Texas in the Big 12 Championship game, whoever they wind up playing… I think they’re going to be fine this week. It’s next week that I start to worry.”

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Steve Sarkisian will not be looking ahead and wants to make sure business is taken care of against Texas Tech first. Crain and Staples have differing opinions on how they game will play out, potentially setting up for a good one under the lights on Black Friday.