Miller’s Texas Tech vs. Arizona Betting Preview & Odds: Which Defense Can Get Key Stops?

Texas Tech at Arizona Betting Odds

• Odds: Texas Tech -2
• Over/Under: 77
• Date: Saturday, Sept. 14
• Time: 10:30 p.m.  ET
• TV: ESPN
• Location: Tuscon, Ariz.

All odds above as of Friday at 2 p.m. ET and via PointsBet, where Action Network users get an exclusive 200% deposit match (deposit $50, bet with $150).

Texas Tech made one of the best hires this offseason when it brought in Matt Wells from Utah State. Wells’ Aggies had one of the best offenses in the country last season and he brought offensive coordinator David Yost with him to Lubbock.

So far this year, Tech doesn’t look a whole lot different on offense than it did in the past under Kliff Kingsbury. These guys are going at lightning speed and throwing the ball all over the field.

The Red Raiders have one of my favorite quarterbacks in the country in Alan Bowman.

It looks like Wells has brought something else to Lubbock that Texas Tech fans haven’t seen in years:

A defense?

It’s only a two-game sample against an FCS team and UTEP, but the Red Raiders’ stop unit has been impressive. I’m not expecting Texas Tech to suddenly turn into the 1985 Chicago Bears, but it should be able to at least help out their powerful offense by getting some key stops.

Arizona has taken one of the biggest dives in my power ratings since the start of the season and it has nothing to do with the offense. The Wildcats rank No.3 in yards per play on offense, fifth in overall explosiveness, and seventh in offensive efficiency. They’ve yet to face a good defense, but they’ve scored plenty against the bad defenses they have played.

The defense, on the other hand, has been a disaster. After surrendering 595 yards to Hawaii, the Wildcats went into a bye week looking to fix their defensive problems.

The following week they allowed FCS Northern Arizona to put up 442 yards and 41 points on them. This team ranks 124th in yards per play, 112th in points per play, 119th in defensive explosiveness, and 120th in defensive efficiency.

Bowman and a talented receiving corps are going to have a field day against this Arizona defense. I make this game Texas Tech -1, but I don’t think I’ve downgraded Arizona enough yet.

I expect both teams will score their fair share of points, but only one team has the defense to make a stop or two when it matters, and that’s Texas Tech.

The Pick: Texas Tech -2