BYU vs Texas Tech Score Prediction, Closing Line & Expert Picks

• BYU looks to remain unbeaten
• The winner is in the driver’s seat to play for the Big 12 title
• Read below for my BYU vs Texas Tech score prediction, expert picks, and the updated closing line

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The undefeated No.7 BYU Cougars (8-0, 5-0 in the Big 12) head on the road to face the No.8 Texas Tech Red Raiders (8-1, 5-1 in the Big 12) in a game with huge Big 12 title implications. Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock plays host to a noon kickoff on Saturday, Nov. 8. ABC will handle the broadcast.

Continue reading for my BYU vs Texas Tech score prediction as well as my expert pick and the closing line for this titanic CFP-affecting showdown.

BYU vs Texas Tech Prediction

• Score Prediction: Texas Tech 27, BYU 24

After a hectic offseason that saw BYU jettison its starting quarterback, the Cougars have not skipped a beat. They are 8-0 and ranked in the top 10 for the second consecutive season. Last season, the Cougars pushed to 9-0 with a No.7 ranking before losing back-to-back conference games to fall out of the Big 12 title race entirely.

Bear Bachmeier has had nothing short of a miraculous season with the Cougars. Bachmeier opened 2025 at Stanford before transferring to BYU and winning the starting job as a true freshman. He has 20 total touchdowns for the Cougars with just three interceptions to his name. Most recently, he has been a major cog in the BYU rushing attack.

ONLY True Freshman QB with an 80+ Grade This Season:

🔵 Bear Bachmeier, BYU: 80.3@BYUfootball pic.twitter.com/HGWQnvCC48

— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 5, 2025

LJ Martin is the straw that stirs the drink in Provo, however. The junior leads the conference with 789 rushing yards, and he has found the end zone five times. He has five games with 100 rushing yards including a whopping 122 in the Holy War against Utah. His season high game in a double overtime win over Arizona – 162 yards.

BYU has three main pass catchers. Chase Roberts and Parker Kingston are a dynamic pair of receivers who have both eclipsed 500 yards on the season. Roberts and Kingston have four touchdowns each, with Kingston having two extra catches and Roberts having 75 extra yards. Carsen Ryan, a tight end, is the clear No.3 option, but he has 260 yards and two touchdowns to his name.

Defensively, the name to watch is Jack Kelly. Kelly leads the Cougars with 8.0 tackles for a loss and 5.0 sacks. The senior linebacker also has a forced fumble on the season.

The Red Raiders are back in the top 10 of the AP Poll after a two-week hiatus following their loss to Arizona State. Texas Tech is not only 8-1, but their wins have each come by at least 23 points. They have the No.4 scoring offense and No.5 scoring defense.

Behren Morton has cooled off after a blistering start, but he does lead the conference in completion rate and yards per attempt. The Red Raiders are 7-0 when Morton plays – he missed their loss to Arizona State. Morton has a strong 15-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio this season.

The Red Raiders have a two-headed backfield with Cameron Dickey and J’Koby Williams. Dickey leads the team with 134 carries and 746 yards. He leads the conference with 10 rushing touchdowns and 11 total touchdowns. Williams is a touch more efficient (5.7 yards per carry), and he has been a more reliable option in the passing game.

Texas Tech has five different players with 300 receiving yards: three receivers, a tight end, and the aforementioned Williams. Caleb Douglas leads the team with 41 catches and 594 yards. Two pass catchers, Reginald Virgil and tight end Terrance Carter lead the team with five touchdown grabs each.

Texas Tech has a who’s who of future NFL defensive talent. For example, the PFF Big Board has four Red Raiders in the top 160, including two top-25 players. The leader of the group from a draft perspective is David Bailey, potentially an early first-round pick. He leads the nation with 11.5 sacks – contributing to his conference-leading 14.0 tackles for a loss. Jacob Rodriguez might be the best linebacker in the country; his seven forced fumbles lead the FBS.

His name is Jacob Rodriguez and he's the best defensive player in the country. pic.twitter.com/Wjb50wehTY

— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) November 5, 2025

BYU vs Texas Tech Expert Pick

• Under 52.5 (-114, BetRivers)

Here is my justification for backing Under 52.5 in this Big 12 showdown:

• For my money, Texas Tech has the best defense in the country west of Columbus (Ohio). The Red Raiders have allowed just 13.2 points per game. Only two teams have managed to score even 18 points against Texas Tech this season. BYU is also among the best defenses in the country, allowing 17.0 points per game.
• In games this season, the under is 4-4 in BYU games and 5-4 in Texas Tech games. This is the highest total for a BYU game since their Week 1 game against FCS Portland State.
• If the Cougars hope to keep the game close, they must rely on a potent ground game. Not only could this neutralize the best pass rush in college football, but it would allow freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier to control the tempo of the game. Ideally, a dominant ground game will bleed the clock faster and push the game toward the under.

BYU vs Texas Tech Closing Line

The sportsbooks have Texas Tech as solid home favorites on the closing line for this potential Big 12 title game preview. The total is set between 51.5 and 52.5 points. Over bettors can get over 51.5 at FanDuel for -110 odds. Under bettors can get under 52.5 on BetRivers for -114 odds.

Texas Tech bettors can get the Red Raiders -10 on the spread at BetRivers (-122 odds) or -365 on the moneyline at Caesars. BYU bettors can get the Cougars at +11.5 on the spread at DraftKings (-112 odds) or +325 on the moneyline at BetMGM.

Odds as of November 8, 2025, at consensus sportsbooks. Browse our top college football betting apps for BYU vs Texas Tech

BYU vs Texas Tech, Lifetime Matchups

BYU and Texas Tech have only played twice, with both teams winning their home matchups. Now conference mates, they will play regularly for the foreseeable future.

In BYU and Texas Tech’s lone conference matchup to this point, BYU won 27-14, jumping out to a three-score lead in the first half. Former USC and Pitt quarterback Kedon Slovis tossed two touchdowns for the victorious Cougars. Future Bengals running back Tahj Brooks had 116 total yards and a touchdown for the Red Raiders.