Friday night college football is back in Texas this weekend. The Texas Tech Red Raiders, with high expectations this season, are set to take on the Houston Cougars. Houston head coach Willie Fritz has this program kind of on the rise. Meanwhile, Tech is trying to get back to the College Football Playoff.

This game could be extremely fun. Both teams have some really nice pieces that could make the game extremely interesting. Not to mention, this is a Big 12 conference game, which means there’s really something on the line. So, let’s get into the predictions.

Final score predictions for the Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Houston Cougars

Tyler Forness, A to Z Florida: Texas Tech 31, Houston 28

I am a big fan of what Willie Fritz has going on with the Houston Cougars. They have an elite quarterback of the future in Keisean Henderson, and Conner Weigman is in a good spot to lead the team this season. What’s more impressive is how well they have run the football, with five players with 65 or more yards on the ground and a whopping 616 total yards. The issue here is simple: are they good enough to beat a Red Raiders team on the road?

Texas Tech is 2-0, but their offense hasn’t exactly been explosive. Will Hammond has been fine, but isn’t on the level of what Behren Morton was last year. Scoring only 33 on Abilene Christian and 35 against Oregon State doesn’t give much faith that they will take things to the next level. Even so, the team has a lot of talent, including on defense. Being at home will help, and they pull out a close win.

Craig Smith, A to Z Miami: Texas Tech 27, Houston 24

This could be a sneaky good game on Friday night. The Red Raiders come in as a top Big 12 conference favorite, but the Cougars have shown they’re a fun group this year, or at least could be. They have a common opponent this young season — Oregon State — but with both Houston and Tech winning by two scores, there’s not much to tell there.

The Cougars get the jump on Tech in Lubbock, as Tech’s defense has shown it needs a little bit of time to settle in — OSU led Tech 24-21 midway through the fourth quarter last weekend. But Tech QB Will Hammond settles in and leads a late scoring drive to deliver the Red Raiders an early-season big conference win.

Ryan Roberts, A to Z Notre Dame: Houston 28, Texas Tech 23

I’m taking Houston to pull off the road upset, 28-23, behind another strong performance from Conner Weigman. Weigman looked sharp in the season opener, throwing for 305 yards and a touchdown while also adding a rushing score, and he already showed the chemistry he has with Amare Thomas by connecting with him for a 31-yard touchdown. I expect Thomas to be the difference-maker again, creating explosive plays down the field and giving Texas Tech’s secondary problems throughout the night. The biggest surprise, though, could be Houston’s offensive line. If the Cougars can consistently protect Weigman and win enough battles up front, Houston has enough offensive firepower to keep pace in Lubbock.

The other key to this prediction is Texas Tech’s inability to establish the run consistently. The Red Raiders have plenty of talent and are rightfully favored by many to contend for the Big 12, but I don’t see them able to simply lean on their rushing attack when Houston forces them into obvious passing situations. Houston’s defense should create enough pressure and third-down stops to keep Texas Tech from pulling away, while Weigman eventually engineers a late scoring drive to put the Cougars ahead for good. Final score: Houston 28, Texas Tech 23.

Justin Churchill, A to Z Oklahoma: Texas Tech 27, Houston 24

This game could get wonky. Both teams have strong talent, good coaching, and strengths that could win the game. Regardless, I have Tech winning this one at home. This is one where the spread has moved enough that the exact number matters. Texas Tech opened around the -7.5 range in several markets, while some current listings have moved toward -10 to -13.5. The total is roughly 51.5–53.5, depending on the book. The biggest matchup advantage is Texas Tech’s run defense against Houston’s rushing attack.

Texas Tech’s run defense is No. 1 nationally, while Houston’s rushing offense ranks much lower. That could be a major problem for Houston if the Cougars fall behind and become one-dimensional. Texas Tech has generated 33 pressures in two games, and that front is the part of the Red Raiders’ defense that I trust most. Houston QB Conner Weigman has historically had some turnover-worthy play issues, making pressure particularly important in this matchup.

Rob Gregson, A to Z Alabama: Texas Tech 30, Houston 22

I think we might be in for a fun Friday Night Lights shootout between two Texas schools here. We know the embattled Red Raiders have put the noisiest offseason in program history behind them, and despite last week’s scare against Oregon State, Joey McGuire will have the boys ready to go for an in-state game against a fellow Big-12 rival.

While Houston starts an experienced signal caller in Conner Weigman, I expect the Red Raiders’ defense to be a lot for the Houston offensive line and skill positions, so I’m giving the Red Raiders a good ol’ fashioned game on Friday night in Texas.