On their best days, Texas Tech and Arkansas could play with anybody. The Red Raiders beat both teams that appeared in the Big 12 championship game, Arizona State and Iowa State. The Razorbacks handed playoff-bound Tennessee one of its two defeats. But there weren’t enough of those good days—which is why both squads are in the Dec. 27 Liberty Bowl, where Texas Tech is a 1-point favorite.
The Red Raiders finished at 8-4 overall and were a fairly reliable cover, beating the spread in seven of their final 10 regular-season games. Arkansas finished 6-6 overall after dropping three of its last four, and covered just twice in its final six regular-season contests.
Texas Tech vs Arkansas Odds
Matchup Page: Texas Tech vs Arkansas, December 27th, 7:00 pm ET
| Teams | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Tech | -2.5 (-122) | -152 | O60.5 (-112) |
| Arkansas | +2.5 (+100) | +126 | U60.5 (-112) |
Odds as of December 12th at Fanduel
Texas Tech vs Arkansas Picks: Liberty Bowl
Aside from back-to-back losses to Baylor and TCU at midseason, Texas Tech was steady from beginning to end, and closed strong by winning three of four. The big question for the Red Raiders is whether standout running back Tahj Brooks will play in Memphis, or sit out to prepare for the NFL draft. Brooks is the nation’s seventh-leading rusher at 1,505 yards, and according to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal needs 23 yards to eclipse Byron Hanspard for the school career record.
Things are a bit murkier at Arkansas, where according to reports star wide receiver Andrew Armstrong—the SEC leader in receptions and receiving yards—is declaring for the NFL draft. So are two starting defensive linemen, Landon Jackson and Eric Gregory. On top of that, at least eight Razorbacks have reportedly entered the transfer portal, among them tight end Luke Hasz and backup quarterback Malachi Singleton.
Wanting to be there is the first step to winning a mid-tier bowl game, and toward that end Arkansas is sending all the wrong signals. The Red Raiders also have more quality wins, a better track record of covering spreads, and a victory over an Oklahoma State team that the Razorbacks lost to. It all makes backing the narrow favorite the natural play in the Liberty Bowl.
Texas Tech vs Arkansas Liberty Bowl Pick: Texas Tech -2.5
The Red Raiders had the Big 12’s top scoring offense during the regular season, averaging 38.58 points per game—a big reason they went OVER in five of their last six games. Arkansas went OVER in three of its last five, largely thanks to the SEC’s second-worst scoring defense. We’ll stick with those trends and take the OVER, especially since this total is lower than what Texas Tech typically saw during the season.
Texas Tech vs Arkansas Liberty Bowl Pick: OVER 60.5
Texas Tech vs Arkansas News
The Red Raiders do have one notable transfer portal entry in receiver Brady Boyd, who appeared in nine games this season. Texas Tech is also dealing with a staff shakeup, given that coach Joey McGuire fired both his defensive coordinator and secondary coach, according to the Avalanche-Journal, and lost offensive coordinator Zach Kittley to the head coaching position at Florida Atlantic. Receiver and linebackers coaches will act as OC and DC, respectively, in Memphis.
Texas Tech vs Arkansas Prop Bet: Texas Tech First Half (-102)
McGuire has Arkansas roots and is excited to play this game. So, it seems, is his team, which—Boyd’s looming decision notwithstanding—will arrive in Memphis largely intact. All that counts for a lot against an opponent dealing with a raft of departures, and convinces us that Texas Tech is very capable of getting off to a fast start.
Texas Tech vs Arkansas Betting Trends
Texas Tech is 4-3-1 ATS this season as a favorite
Arkansas is 5-3 ATS this season as an underdog
Texas Tech has gone OVER in two of its three non-conference games this season
