The Kent State Golden Flashes and Texas Tech Red Raiders both beat FCS opponents in the opening week of the college football season. They will face their first FBS opponents of the season on Saturday afternoon in Lubbock. Can the Red Raiders cover the spread as one of the biggest favorites in college football this week? Continue reading to get my Kent State vs Texas Tech prediction for this non-conference matchup.
Our Kent State vs Texas Tech Pick
- Pick: Under 59.5
- Confidence: ★★★★☆
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Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Kent State Golden Flashes vs Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Date & Time: Saturday, September 6, 2025, 12:00 PM ET
- Venue: Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, TX
- Broadcast: TNT / truTV / HBO Max
Kent State vs Texas Tech Odds
| Spread | Total |
|---|---|
| Texas Tech –48.5 | 59.5 |
Key Storylines
- Texas Tech enters with a potent offense. They put up 67 points and 608 total yards in Week 1 against a clearly overmatched Arkansas Pine Bluff team.
- Kent State snapped a long losing streak with a close win over FCS Merrimack. But the Golden Flashes are expected to be overmatched on both sides of the ball in this matchup.
- Quarterback availability for Texas Tech remains a storyline in this game. Starter Behren Morton left the team’s opener with a lower-body injury. Backup Will Hammond proved effective against an FCS opponent and he will try to play at a high level here against FBS competition if he is called into action.
Quarterback Play
Kent State went with two quarterbacks in their win over Merrimack. Dru DeShields and CJ Montes combined for just over 200 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. They will need to protect the ball in this game as well but even that might not be enough to stay competitive in this game.
Behren Morton was sublime while he was on the field for Texas Tech. He went 16 of 18 passing with 201 yards and four touchdown passes. His status is uncertain after an injury in the opener. Backup Will Hammond completed 7 of 9 attempts for 92 yards and a passing touchdown. He also had a 64-yard rushing touchdown. The quarterback situation for the Red Raiders will be something to watch leading into this game.
Betting Trends & H2H
- Kent State is 1–21 SU in its last 22 games and 0–14 in its last 14 road games.
- Texas Tech is 5–2 ATS in its last seven games.
- Kent State and Texas Tech are playing for the first time ever in college football.
Kent State vs Texas Tech Model Projection
Score Projection: Kent State 3 – Texas Tech 55
Win Probability: Texas Tech 98%, Kent State 2%
Final Thoughts
It would take nothing short of a miracle for Kent State to keep this game close against Texas Tech. I do not see that miracle coming, even if the Red Raiders have to rely on their backup quarterback. My best bet for this game is the under, as Kent State shouldn’t do much of any scoring, while the Red Raiders’ quarterback situation being up in the air might help the under as well.
