California Golden Bears vs Texas Tech Red Raiders Betting Pick & Prediction Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl

On Saturday, December 16th at 9:15 PM ET, the Texas Tech Red Raiders and California Golden Bears face off at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, LA. ESPN will carry the TV coverage for the game. The Red Raiders are the 3 favorites to come away with the win in this non-conference matchup. Are they the best play on the spread? Keep reading to see how I think this one plays out in Shreveport.

CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS VS TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS BETTING PICK

The Pick: California Golden Bears +3

This game will be played at Independence Stadium at 9:15 ET on Saturday, December 16th.

WHY BET THE CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 30-29 in favor of Texas Tech.
• Even though we have Texas Tech winning straight-up, we like California at +3.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 58.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 59 points.

Can the Golden Bears Offense Score Enough in Shreveport?

So far, the California Golden Bears are 6-6, including going 3-3 on the road and 2-3 at home.

So far, California has been favored four times and the underdog in seven games. This has led to an ATS record of 6-5 and an average scoring differential of -1.1.

California has put together an over/under record of 7-4 throughout this season. The average combined score in their games has been 64.2 points, and the standard over/under line has stood at 54.2 points.

California’s offense has put up an average of 31.6 points per game, placing them 39th in the NCAA rankings. Through the air, they’ve gained 214.6 passing yards on average, ranking 80th in the nation. On the ground, they’re holding the 43rd position in rushing yards, with 462 rushing attempts per game this season.

The California defense holds the 138th position in points allowed, allowing 32.7 points per game. Teams have an average of 283.3 passing yards per game against them (173rd nationally). In terms of rushing, they’ve given up 133.8 rushing yards, placing them 54th in college football.

Can the Red Raiders Secure a Win at Home?

So far, the Texas Tech Red Raiders are 6-6, including going 2-3 on the road and 3-2 at home.

Heading into this week’s matchup with California, the Red Raiders have been favored in seven games and the underdog in three. Their ATS mark coming into the game is 4-6.

The average point total in Texas Tech’s 12 games is currently 53.8 points per game. This has led to an over/under record of 4-6 for the Red Raiders.

In the rushing game, the Red Raiders are currently 50th in college football with 429 attempts per game. This has resulted in an average of 166.6 rushing yards per game, putting them 61st nationally. Their passing game has averaged 35.6 passes and 221.1 yards per game. When it comes to scoring, they are 58th, averaging 26.8 points per game.

This season, the Red Raiders’ defense has allowed 167.5 rushing yards per contest, placing them 99th. Opponents are averaging 226.6 passing yards, and opposing quarterbacks hold a passer rating of 80.4 when facing Texas Tech. They currently hold the 49th spot in NCAA points allowed.