Key Points:
- The No. 8 Texas Tech Red Raiders host the No. 7 BYU Cougars in a crucial Big 12 matchup.
- Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt predicted Texas Tech will defeat BYU at home.
- Klatt praised BYU freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier’s poise and athleticism but questioned his ability to handle Texas Tech.
Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt predicted some of college football’s biggest Week 11 matchups. That includes a game between the No. 8 Texas Tech Red Raiders and No. 7 BYU Cougars in Lubbock, Texas.
BYU enters the game undefeated at 8-0. Meanwhile, Texas Tech is 8-1 with its only loss coming to the Arizona State Sun Devils. Both enter the game with hopes of eventually capturing a Big 12 title and making a College Football Playoff appearance. The Red Raiders are heavily favored, though, sitting as 10.5-point favorites according to ESPN Bet.
In a video posted to “The Joel Klatt Show: A College Football Podcast,” the Fox Sports analyst revealed how he believes the game will end.
“I think Texas Tech wins this game,” Klatt said. “The environment, facing a true freshman, the entire hype of the offseason leads Texas Tech to a win. Now they’re favored by 10 and a half. That’s a big number, but you know what? You put down a score, it does not seem outlandish, Texas Tech 34, BYU 21… The Red Raiders, they win this top 10 matchup at home.”
It would be a big win for Texas Tech, which is still searching for its first Big 12 title since joining the conference in 1996.
Joel Klatt Weighs in on Bear Bachmeier
Much of the Cougars’ success this season can be attributed to true freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier. Through eight games, he’s completed 126-of-201 passes for 1,693 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. He’s also excelled with his legs, rushing for 408 yards and nine touchdowns.
Klatt did express worries about Bachmeier going up against Texas Tech, but also praised the true freshman for simply being a winner.
“We see him play OK at Arizona, play much better at Iowa State,” Klatt said. “This is a different level. Texas Tech is much more talented, in particular on the defensive side, than either of those teams. One thing that I do love about Bear Bachmeier is that the guy just wins…. He’s tough, he can run it, he makes good decisions with the football. He’s 8-0 as a starter as a true freshman.”
With an undefeated season on the line, BYU will take on Texas Tech with kickoff scheduled for noon ET, airing on ABC.