The points should be plentiful at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., this Saturday as Texas Tech’s vaunted pass attack meets South Florida’s elite run game at the Birmingham Bowl.
| Pointspread | +2.5 -105 |
| Moneyline | +120 |
| Over / Under | o +66.5 |
11%
89%
| Pointspread | -2.5 -115 |
| Moneyline | -140 |
| Over / Under | u +66.5 |
11%
89%
The Bulls are slight favourites in this one by virtue of averaging a whopping 38.3 points per game – the 14th-highest rate in the nation. The Red Raiders were no slouches themselves, posting an average of 34.3 points per contest to rank just outside the top 25 in the country.
Red Raiders vs. Bulls Spread and Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 9 Dec 7:26pm | TTU | -2.5 -115 | O +67 -110 |
| Closing 23 Dec 7:38am | TTU | -3 +105 | O +66.5 -110 |
South Florida sure did put up the points, but that didn’t translate into success against the spread – the Bulls were just 5-6 ATS on the season while failing to cover in four of their final five games. But the Red Raiders have been even worse, going 2-5 ATS in their previous seven games while covering only twice in their previous nine bowl appearances. Sports Interaction bettors are resolute in their choice, with 88 percent taking South Florida to cover.
With the teams combining to average better than 70 points per game during the season, it’s no surprise that nearly 90 percent of Sports Interaction participants are leaning toward the over on the 66.5-point total. Texas Tech has exceeded the total in 14 of its previous 17 neutral-site games and is 9-1 O/U in its previous 10 bowl contests. USF has gone over in seven straight games after compiling more than 450 yards in its previous outing.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
There’s no trickery to the Red Raiders’ offense: They pass the ball on more than 55 percent of their offensive possessions vs. FBS teams, the 15th-highest rate in Division I. That translates to nearly 327 passing yards per game, good for 11th in the country. Quarterback Nic Shimonek had a sensational year under center, throwing 30 touchdown passes while compiling more than 3,500 yards through the air. Texas Tech has covered its last four non-conference games.
South Florida Bulls
The running of the Bulls (pun intended) played a major role in USF finishing second in the AAC’s East Division. Quarterback Quinton Flowers and running back Darius Tice combined for 1,850 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground; Flowers added 2,600 passing yards and 21 scores in one of the best two-way seasons among Division I QBs. USF also boasted an impressive plus-10 turnover margin – though Texas Tech was slightly better at plus-11.
Injuries
Justin Stockton (RB)
Tre King (RB)
Jaylon Lane (DB)
Jordyn Brooks (LB)
Nick McCann (DL)
Desmond Nisby (RB)
D.J. Polite-Bray (DB)
Mason Reed (FB)
Derrick Willies (WR)
Lonzell Gilmore (DL)
Deangelo Antoine (WR)
Kevaugh Dingle (WR)
Vincent Jackson (DE)
Trevon Sands (RB)
Darius Tice (RB)
Tajee Fullwood (CB)
Keirston Johnson (LB)
Andre Polk Jr. (LB)
Ryeshene Bronson (WR)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Stockton (RB) | Prob Sat | Concussion - 04 / 12 / 17 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Stockton is expected to suit up in the Birmingham Bowl against USF despite concussion-like symptoms. |
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| Tre King (RB) | Ques Fri | Shoulder - 19 / 11 / 17 | 2-1 | 0-3 | + - |
|
King is nursing a shoulder injury and it is unknown if he will play against Texas on Friday. |
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| Jaylon Lane (DB) | Doub Sat | Suspension - 19 / 11 / 17 | 2-1 | 0-3 | + - |
|
Lane continues to be suspended and it is unlikely he will play in the Birmingham Bowl against South Florida. |
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| Jordyn Brooks (LB) | Prob Sat | Illness - 07 / 11 / 17 | 2-2 | 1-3 | + - |
|
Brooks is dealing with an illness but is expected to play Saturday against Baylor. |
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| Nick McCann (DL) | Prob Sat | Disciplinary - 07 / 11 / 17 | 2-2 | 1-3 | + - |
|
McCann is dealing with disciplinary issues but is expected to lineup against Baylor on Saturday. |
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| Desmond Nisby (RB) | Prob Sat | Disciplinary - 07 / 11 / 17 | 2-2 | 1-3 | + - |
|
Nisby is dealing with disciplinary issues but is expected to be in the lineup Saturday against Baylor. |
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| D.J. Polite-Bray (DB) | out for season | Academics - 07 / 11 / 17 | 2-2 | 1-3 | + - |
|
Polite-Bray will not be available for the rest of the season while he focuses on his academics. |
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| Mason Reed (FB) | Out indefinitely | Concussion - 07 / 11 / 17 | 2-2 | 1-3 | + - |
|
Reed will miss an undetermined length of time due to concussion-like symptoms. |
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| Derrick Willies (WR) | Ques Sat | Disciplinary - 07 / 11 / 17 | 2-2 | 1-3 | + - |
|
Willies missed the last three games for disciplinary reasons and it is undetermined if he will play in the Birmingham Bowl against South Florida. |
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| Lonzell Gilmore (DL) | out for season | Leg - 06 / 11 / 17 | 2-2 | 1-3 | + - |
|
Gilmore is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to a leg injury. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deangelo Antoine (WR) | Ques Sat | Ankle - 12 / 12 / 17 | 1-0 | 1-0 | + - |
|
Antoine has an ankle injury and his status for the Birmingham Bowl against Texas Tech is unclear. |
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| Kevaugh Dingle (WR) | Ques Sat | Personal - 18 / 11 / 17 | 1-1 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Dingle is dealing with a personal matter and it is undetermined if he will play in the Birmingham Bowl against Texas Tech. |
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| Vincent Jackson (DE) | Ques Fri | Suspension - 12 / 11 / 17 | 1-2 | 1-2 | + - |
|
Jackson sat out the last game due to a targeting suspension and it is uncertain if he will be available Friday against UCF. |
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| Trevon Sands (RB) | Ques Fri | Undisclosed - 04 / 11 / 17 | 1-3 | 1-3 | + - |
|
Sands has missed the last two games for undisclosed reasons and his status for Friday's matchup against Central Florida is in question. |
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| Darius Tice (RB) | Ques Sat | Leg - 15 / 10 / 17 | 2-4 | 2-4 | + - |
|
Tice has a leg injury and it is unclear if he will play against Tulane on Saturday. |
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| Tajee Fullwood (CB) | Ques Sat | Ankle - 12 / 10 / 17 | - | - | + - |
|
Fullwood missed the last game due to an ankle injury and his status for Saturday's contest against Tulane is unknown. |
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| Keirston Johnson (LB) | Prob Sat | Chest - 08 / 10 / 17 | - | - | + - |
|
Johnson has missed the last three games with a chest injury but is expected to play Saturday against Connecticut. |
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| Andre Polk Jr. (LB) | Out indefinitely | Knee - 17 / 09 / 17 | - | - | + - |
|
Polk has been sidelined by a knee injury and it is unclear when he will be ready to play again. |
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| Ryeshene Bronson (WR) | out for season | Shoulder - 13 / 08 / 17 | - | - | + - |
|
Bronson has surgery to repair a right shoulder injury and is expected to miss the remainder of the season. |
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Red Raiders vs. Bulls Prediction
-
TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS
38 -
SOUTH FLORIDA BULLS
45
Score
Prediction
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 9 Dec 7:26pm TTU -2.5 -115 O +67 -110 Closing 23 Dec 7:38am TTU -3 +105 O +66.5 -110 -
Injuries
Justin Stockton (RB)
Prob Sat Concussion - 04 / 12 / 17Tre King (RB)
Ques Fri Shoulder - 19 / 11 / 17Jaylon Lane (DB)
Doub Sat Suspension - 19 / 11 / 17Jordyn Brooks (LB)
Prob Sat Illness - 07 / 11 / 17Nick McCann (DL)
Prob Sat Disciplinary - 07 / 11 / 17Desmond Nisby (RB)
Prob Sat Disciplinary - 07 / 11 / 17D.J. Polite-Bray (DB)
out for season Academics - 07 / 11 / 17Mason Reed (FB)
Out indefinitely Concussion - 07 / 11 / 17Derrick Willies (WR)
Ques Sat Disciplinary - 07 / 11 / 17Lonzell Gilmore (DL)
out for season Leg - 06 / 11 / 17Deangelo Antoine (WR)
Ques Sat Ankle - 12 / 12 / 17Kevaugh Dingle (WR)
Ques Sat Personal - 18 / 11 / 17Vincent Jackson (DE)
Ques Fri Suspension - 12 / 11 / 17Trevon Sands (RB)
Ques Fri Undisclosed - 04 / 11 / 17Darius Tice (RB)
Ques Sat Leg - 15 / 10 / 17Tajee Fullwood (CB)
Ques Sat Ankle - 12 / 10 / 17Keirston Johnson (LB)
Prob Sat Chest - 08 / 10 / 17Andre Polk Jr. (LB)
Out indefinitely Knee - 17 / 09 / 17Ryeshene Bronson (WR)
out for season Shoulder - 13 / 08 / 17Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Justin Stockton (RB) Prob Sat Concussion - 04 / 12 / 17 1-0 0-1 + - Stockton is expected to suit up in the Birmingham Bowl against USF despite concussion-like symptoms.
Tre King (RB) Ques Fri Shoulder - 19 / 11 / 17 2-1 0-3 + - King is nursing a shoulder injury and it is unknown if he will play against Texas on Friday.
Jaylon Lane (DB) Doub Sat Suspension - 19 / 11 / 17 2-1 0-3 + - Lane continues to be suspended and it is unlikely he will play in the Birmingham Bowl against South Florida.
Jordyn Brooks (LB) Prob Sat Illness - 07 / 11 / 17 2-2 1-3 + - Brooks is dealing with an illness but is expected to play Saturday against Baylor.
Nick McCann (DL) Prob Sat Disciplinary - 07 / 11 / 17 2-2 1-3 + - McCann is dealing with disciplinary issues but is expected to lineup against Baylor on Saturday.
Desmond Nisby (RB) Prob Sat Disciplinary - 07 / 11 / 17 2-2 1-3 + - Nisby is dealing with disciplinary issues but is expected to be in the lineup Saturday against Baylor.
D.J. Polite-Bray (DB) out for season Academics - 07 / 11 / 17 2-2 1-3 + - Polite-Bray will not be available for the rest of the season while he focuses on his academics.
Mason Reed (FB) Out indefinitely Concussion - 07 / 11 / 17 2-2 1-3 + - Reed will miss an undetermined length of time due to concussion-like symptoms.
Derrick Willies (WR) Ques Sat Disciplinary - 07 / 11 / 17 2-2 1-3 + - Willies missed the last three games for disciplinary reasons and it is undetermined if he will play in the Birmingham Bowl against South Florida.
Lonzell Gilmore (DL) out for season Leg - 06 / 11 / 17 2-2 1-3 + - Gilmore is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to a leg injury.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Deangelo Antoine (WR) Ques Sat Ankle - 12 / 12 / 17 1-0 1-0 + - Antoine has an ankle injury and his status for the Birmingham Bowl against Texas Tech is unclear.
Kevaugh Dingle (WR) Ques Sat Personal - 18 / 11 / 17 1-1 1-1 + - Dingle is dealing with a personal matter and it is undetermined if he will play in the Birmingham Bowl against Texas Tech.
Vincent Jackson (DE) Ques Fri Suspension - 12 / 11 / 17 1-2 1-2 + - Jackson sat out the last game due to a targeting suspension and it is uncertain if he will be available Friday against UCF.
Trevon Sands (RB) Ques Fri Undisclosed - 04 / 11 / 17 1-3 1-3 + - Sands has missed the last two games for undisclosed reasons and his status for Friday's matchup against Central Florida is in question.
Darius Tice (RB) Ques Sat Leg - 15 / 10 / 17 2-4 2-4 + - Tice has a leg injury and it is unclear if he will play against Tulane on Saturday.
Tajee Fullwood (CB) Ques Sat Ankle - 12 / 10 / 17 - - + - Fullwood missed the last game due to an ankle injury and his status for Saturday's contest against Tulane is unknown.
Keirston Johnson (LB) Prob Sat Chest - 08 / 10 / 17 - - + - Johnson has missed the last three games with a chest injury but is expected to play Saturday against Connecticut.
Andre Polk Jr. (LB) Out indefinitely Knee - 17 / 09 / 17 - - + - Polk has been sidelined by a knee injury and it is unclear when he will be ready to play again.
Ryeshene Bronson (WR) out for season Shoulder - 13 / 08 / 17 - - + - Bronson has surgery to repair a right shoulder injury and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.