Week 1 of college football action was just the appetizer as the season really begins to get rolling in Week 2 on Saturday. The No. 24 Texas Tech Red Raiders (1-0) host the Kent State Golden Flashes (1-0) at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock for a matchup with the makings of a lopsided affair. Does Kent State have what it takes to cover, or will Tech cover handily in this contest?
Let’s dive into the details with a Texas Tech vs. Kent State prediction and pick on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Texas Tech vs. Kent State preview, prediction
Texas Tech Red Raiders
A weather delay couldn’t dampen the vibes out in Lubbock when the Red Raiders began their season in dominant fashion last week. Texas Tech stomped Arkansas-Pine Bluff 67-7 with plenty of fireworks on offense. The result was expected against an inferior FCS opponent, especially after Tech boosters put significant resources into luring top talent to the program following an underwhelming 2024, but it still gave Red Raiders fans something to cheer for in Week 1 and served as a tune-up game for the players.
In that outing, starting quarterback Behren Morton went 16-of-18 for 201 yards and four touchdowns before his day ended early, while halfback Cameron Dickey racked up 90 yards and a score on 12 carries. Three other runners all logged at least 50 rushing yards, while 12 different players caught at least one pass. The offense got what they wanted all day and the defense held their opponent scoreless until the fourth quarter and allowed just 175 total yards while picking up a couple of sacks and an interception as well. The pass rush will prove crucial for Texas Tech as they invested in the front seven through the transfer portal and boast what should be one of the most fearsome units in college football this year.
Kent State Golden Flashes
While Kent State won their season opener as well, it wasn’t nearly the same caliber performance as the one that this week’s opponent put up. The Golden Flashes downed Merrimack, another FCS program, but only won 21-17… far from a blowout victory. They were actually outgained by Merrimack 340 yards to 305 on the day and saw their run game limited to just 96 yards on the ground while converting just five of their 14 third-down opportunities. That’s simply not what you want to see for any FBS program against a lower-level team, especially not in the week before facing a nationally ranked squad.
Starting quarterback CJ Montes, a New Mexico transfer, went 6-for-9 for 91 yards and a touchdown in his debut before backup Dru DeShields entered the game. Halfback Gavin Garcia had an inefficient day on the ground with 49 yards on 15 carries, but receiver Cade Wolford did steal the show with 109 yards and a pair of touchdowns on just two catches. However, they face a significantly better defense this week in Lubbock and will have their work cut out for them.
Texas Tech vs. Kent State pick, best bet
DraftKings Sportsbook lists Texas Tech as a 48.5-point favorite against Kent State on Saturday. The game total sits at 60.5 combined points.
Those are some wild odds, though they do make sense considering the quality of these squads. The Golden Flashes went winless at 0-12 last season and Mark Carney took over as interim head coach during that campaign, and he now serves in that role full-time. The Red Raiders saw some disappointments last year, but ultimately finished 8-5 and 6-3 in the Big 12. Now, they have a much better roster on paper and have the benefit of a raucous home-field environment at the Jones on Saturday.
After Texas Tech dismantled last week’s FCS opponent, it won’t be shocking whatsoever to see them do the same against this poor MAC team in Week 2. The odds of an upset are incredibly low and Tech’s starters looked absolutely locked in to start the season — anything can happen, sure, but there’s a massive discrepancy between the four and five-star talents taking the field for them vs. the lower-ranked players for Kent State. While the latter may be a favorite program to rebuild in the video-game version of college football, the Golden Flashes stand no chance. This game should go over this high total with 50 or more points absolutely in play for the Red Raiders.
