Redshirt
Matchup preview

Houston vs Texas Tech

Houston visit Texas Tech in Week 3. The model favors Texas Tech by 10.1. Win probability, the tale of the tape, and the all-time series, all from real data.

Win probability
27%
73%

Model win probability from SP+ ratings + home-field edge.

The read
Model analysis · September 16 · refreshed weekly

SP+ separates these Big 12 teams by 7.5 points, rating Texas Tech 19.1 (15th) against Houston 11.6 (31st), and projects the Red Raiders by 9.9 with a 73 percent win probability. The market is a shade softer: Texas Tech -7.5 with a 26.5 total implies 68 percent, while the ProphetX exchange prices the Red Raiders at -270, or 73 percent, matching the model against Houston's +255 (28 percent). The two-point gap between the projected margin and the consensus spread is the clearest disagreement, and it tilts toward Texas Tech.

Unit ratings reinforce the edge. Texas Tech's offense (11th) and defense (15th) both outrank Houston's offense (24th) and defense (43rd), with the Cougar defense the weakest of the four. Series history is one-sided: Houston is 0-6 all time, most recently a 35-11 loss in 2025.

Early results are less separating. Houston opened 33-20 over Oregon State and 77-6 over Southern, while Texas Tech beat Abilene Christian 33-10 and won at Oregon State 35-24. Season simulations frame the tiers: Texas Tech projects for 9.1 wins and a 39.5 percent Playoff chance against Houston's 7.5 wins and 11.1 percent.

The model, the exchange and the series all lean Texas Tech, and only the market spread offers Houston any daylight.

Matchup odds
Consensus line · 3 books
Spread
TTU -7.8
Total (O/U)
52.5
Favorite
TTU
Moneyline win probability (implied from the spread)

Real consensus line across 3 sportsbooks. Spread and total are the current market number; the win probabilities are implied from the spread.

Matchup odds price history
The market to win this game · daily prices, colored by the favorite
Houston1%-21 ptsvsTexas Tech99%+21 pts
0%25%50%75%100%Houston favoredTexas Tech favoredJun 22Jul 14Aug 1Aug 15Sep 2Sep 13Sep 19

Real daily prices from the market to win this game, shown as Houston's win price; Texas Tech's is 100 minus it (the same market's other side). Above the 50% line Houston is favored, below it Texas Tech is, and each candle takes the favored team's color. Kalshi shows open-high-low-close candles (filled body closed up, hollow closed down). As of Sep 23.

Tale of the tape
Percentile vs FBS · 2025 stats, 2026 SP+
#34SP+SP+: Bill Connelly's tempo- and opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, expressed in points above average.#13
#50FPIFPI: ESPN's Football Power Index, an overall measure of team strength.#6
1512EloElo: a rating that rises or falls after each game based on the result and the quality of the opponent.2056
0.8%Title oddsDe-vigged consensus probability to win the national title, averaged across the prediction markets we track.1%
HoustonTexas Techsolid = better, faded = trailing
What these metrics mean
SP+. SP+: Bill Connelly's tempo- and opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, expressed in points above average.
FPI. FPI: ESPN's Football Power Index, an overall measure of team strength.
Elo. Elo: a rating that rises or falls after each game based on the result and the quality of the opponent.
Title odds. De-vigged consensus probability to win the national title, averaged across the prediction markets we track.
Off PPA. PPA (Predicted Points Added): the average point value each play adds. Higher is better for offense, lower for defense.
Success. Success rate: the share of plays that stay on schedule (roughly 50% of needed yards on 1st down, 70% on 2nd, 100% on 3rd/4th). Higher is better.
Explosive. Explosiveness: the average value of a team's successful plays, i.e. how big its good plays are when they hit.
Yards/game. Total yards gained per game.
Success allowed. How often the defense allows an on-schedule play (enough yards for the down). Lower is better.
Havoc. Havoc rate: the share of plays where the defense makes a tackle for loss, forced fumble, interception, or pass breakup.
Yards allowed. Total yards allowed per game. Lower is better.
Efficiency profile
Percentile vs FBS · 2025
Recent series
Texas Tech lead 6-0
Texas Tech have won the last 6
20172025
Head to head
Every meeting in our records
2025
35-11
Texas Tech
at Houston
2023
49-28
Texas Tech
at Texas Tech
2022
33-30
Texas Tech
at Texas Tech
2021
38-21
Texas Tech
neutral site
2018
63-49
Texas Tech
at Texas Tech
2017
27-24
Texas Tech
at Houston
More Week 3 matchups
Model previews for the rest of the slate
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How do I trade the Houston vs Texas Tech game?

Kalshi lists winner markets for college football games. Sign up with code FADE (trade $25, get up to $500), open the Houston vs Texas Tech market when it posts, and buy YES on your side; the price in cents equals the market's implied win probability. You can sell before kickoff or settlement at the current price.

When do Houston and Texas Tech play?

Week 3 of 2026, on Sep 19, 2026 at Texas Tech.

Who is favored?

The model projects Texas Tech by 10.1 (73% win probability), from SP+ ratings.

What is the all-time series?

Texas Tech lead 6-0 over the meetings in our records.

Full schedule → · Both teams' playoff odds, from 10,000 simulations →

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