Texas Tech vs Cincinnati Picks and Predictions for Saturday October 24 2026
Texas Tech had 43 points by halftime against Arizona State. Forty-three. That’s more than some teams manage in two weeks. Now the Red Raiders are heading to Cincinnati, where the Bearcats just gave up 45 to West Virginia. I don’t know about you, but I’d be a little nervous if I were coaching that Cincinnati defense.
The Red Raiders visit Nippert Stadium on Saturday, October 24, 2026, with kickoff listed for 4:00 PM ET. Texas Tech is favored by 11.5 points, with the total at 53.5. The early forecast is around 59 degrees with light wind and little rain expected. Gusts still need checking. Cincinnati is celebrating homecoming, so the crowd should be ready. But the Bearcats are going to need more than a loud stadium to stop this offense. Check out our free college football picks for more predictions.
Texas Tech Is Rolling Right Now
Texas Tech is 6-0 and 3-0 in Big 12 play. The Red Raiders just beat Arizona State 53-25, and that game was over before most people finished their halftime snacks. Tech led 43-10 at the break and had already piled up 404 yards. The Red Raiders have now won eight straight regular-season conference games dating back to last year, and they’ve been making a pretty good case that they’re the best team in the Big 12. Now they have to take that show on the road. Cincinnati won’t be an easy place to play, but Texas Tech has been winning away from home, too.
The Red Raiders finished with 502 yards against Arizona State. They ran the football, threw it effectively, and scored on seven straight first-half possessions after an early fumble. That’s impressive. The defense had six sacks and forced two turnovers, including an interception returned for a touchdown. Cincinnati just gave up 45 points to West Virginia, so the Bearcats have some problems to fix. Texas Tech doesn’t need any help scoring, but it’ll gladly take a couple of short fields if Cincinnati starts giving the ball away. The one concern is whether the Red Raiders can keep their foot on the gas for four quarters. They slowed down after halftime against Arizona State, although the game was already well out of reach.
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Will Hammond completed 18 of 26 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown against Arizona State. He also scored on a nine-yard run. J’Koby Williams had 165 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 11 carries. That’s 15 yards a carry. Kenny Johnson caught seven passes for 120 yards, and linebacker Ben Roberts returned an interception 24 yards for a touchdown. Those are some pretty good numbers from several different positions. Texas Tech isn’t relying on one guy to carry the offense. The Red Raiders have been getting production all over the field, and that’s why they’re so difficult to defend.
Cincinnati Needs To Stop Somebody
Cincinnati is 4-2, and the Bearcats have lost two straight after starting 4-0. They lost 34-7 at Arizona on October 3, then went to West Virginia Saturday and lost 45-42. That’s a strange couple of weeks. One game they couldn’t score, and the next they scored 42 and still couldn’t win. Now they get undefeated Texas Tech for homecoming. The Bearcats are 3-0 at Nippert Stadium this season, and that helps. But the competition is getting tougher, and Cincinnati has to start playing better defense if it wants to stay in the Big 12 race.
The Bearcats have scored 34, 62, 35, and 31 in their four wins. They can move the football when everything is working. But they’ve also given up 31 to Miami (Ohio), 26 to Kansas State, 34 to Arizona, and 45 to West Virginia. That’s a lot of points. Texas Tech is going to test that defense in every direction. Cincinnati needs to tackle better and avoid giving up long runs. Williams just averaged 15 yards a carry against Arizona State. If he starts doing that Saturday, the Bearcats are going to spend the whole afternoon chasing red jerseys.
Cincinnati’s offense has enough talent to score, and the 42-point performance at West Virginia proves it. But the Bearcats need more consistency from the quarterback and better protection when the defense knows they’re going to throw. Against Texas Tech, turnovers could be a killer. The Red Raiders just scored on an interception return, and they’ve been getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Cincinnati has to keep the chains moving and avoid giving Tech extra possessions. The Bearcats can make this interesting if they score early. But they’re not going to win a game where the defense gives up 50 again.
Texas Tech vs Cincinnati Picks and Predictions
Texas Tech -11.5 (-110)
I’m laying the 11.5 with Texas Tech. Cincinnati is undefeated at home, and Nippert Stadium can be a difficult place to play. I get that. But Texas Tech is playing much better football right now. The Red Raiders just scored 53 against Arizona State, and their defense had six sacks and a pick-six. Cincinnati gave up 45 to West Virginia. That’s a bad matchup. The Bearcats can score, so a backdoor cover is possible if Texas Tech gets a big lead and starts coasting. But I think the Red Raiders have too much on both sides of the ball. Give me Tech by two touchdowns or more.
Over 53.5 Points (-110)
I’m taking the over 53.5. Texas Tech has been scoring in bunches, and Cincinnati just played a 45-42 game. That’s 87 points. I don’t expect another 87, but I don’t think we need one. The Red Raiders can get into the 30s, and Cincinnati has enough offense to contribute. The danger is Texas Tech’s defense taking over and keeping the Bearcats out of the end zone. Six sacks against Arizona State is no joke. But Cincinnati scored 42 on the road Saturday, and I think the Bearcats find enough offense at home to push this total over. A 38-24 Texas Tech win sounds about right.
Final Picks: Texas Tech -11.5 (-110) and Over 53.5 Points (-110)
This preview was completed October 18, 2026. Betting lines, injuries, and weather forecasts may change before kickoff.
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