Liberty Bowl Preview: Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders

The AutoZone Liberty Bowl will showcase two exciting teams, with the Texas Tech Red Raiders (8-4) taking on the Arkansas Razorbacks (6-6) on Friday, December 27 at 7:00 PM ET at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee. The latest college football betting odds shows the Razorbacks favored with a point spread at -1.5 (-105).

Texas Tech Red Raiders Betting Preview

The Red Raiders have a two-game win streak under their belt heading into the bowl matchup. Their latest victory was a 52-15 outing over the West Virginia Mountaineers and their second consecutive game scoring over 50 points.

They carried a 6-3 lead into the second quarter, but then went on a 29-0 run to blow the game out of the water. Behren Morton had one interception on the day, but completed 28 of 41 passes for 359 yards and two touchdowns. Tahj Brooks also had a phenomenal performance with 23 carries totaling 188 yards and three touchdowns.

Offensively they only had the ball for a little over 25 minutes and produced 568 yards with 31 first downs. Defensively they held the Mountaineers to 423 yards, 26 first downs, and forced three turnovers.

The Red Raiders have compiled 38.6 points a game and rank fifth in the nation for this output. On defense they have held opposing teams to 34.5 points a game, ranking 122nd. This margin is somewhat dangerous, as they heavily rely on their offense to get it done.

Arkansas Razorbacks Betting Preview

The Razorbacks have lost three out of their five games and are coming off a defeat against the (previously) 21st-ranked Missouri Tigers. This was a 28-21 showing, where the Razorbacks had the lead with four minutes left in the game.

Their defense came up short in stopping the Tigers’ run in the fourth quarter, as they put up 18 points and came from behind to win late. Taylen Green completed 21 of 35 passes for 229 yards. Ja’Quinden Jackson had a strong run game with 18 carries amounting to 87 yards and three touchdowns.

Both teams had similar success in total yards and first downs, but the Razorbacks did turn it over twice and were unable to force any turnovers on the Tigers. These mistakes cannot happen in the bowl game, or they risk losing another close battle.

The Razorbacks have put up 30.2 points a game and rank 48th in the country. On defense they have held their opponents to 24.9 points a game and are 69th in this effort.

Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick

MyBookie offers the Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Arkansas Razorbacks betting odds for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. These odds favor the Razorbacks by 1.5-points, while market predictions suggest the Razorbacks have a 56.0 percent chance of winning overall.

Neither team is the same as they were a month ago, as the Red Raiders have coaching staff on both sides of the ball not returning for this matchup. As for the Razorbacks, their key offensive and defensive players have either transferred or are hurt, leaving them vulnerable in key positions. Look for the Red Raiders to cover the spread.

Final Pick: Texas Tech Red Raiders +1.5 (-115)