Predictions: Texas Tech will notch comfortable win over Kansas

More often than not, for whatever reason, Texas Tech's games against Kansas in the Big 12 era have been tighter than expected. Last season was a perfect example of that, as the Red Raiders sleepwalked through an ugly, no-energy affair in Lawrence and eeked out a 10-point win.

I think Thursday's result will be somewhere in the middle. Texas Tech will will comfortably, but Kansas will move the ball and score just enough points to keep this from being a complete rout.

In games against FBS competition this fall, Kansas has averaged 14 points a game on offense, rushed for 73.5 yards a game, and thrown for 199.5 yards a game. Meanwhile on defense, they've given up 40 points a game.

Oh, and they haven't played a Power Five team yet.

If Texas Tech play on offense like they have at home so far this year, Kansas won't slow them down. The margin of victory will simply come down to how close the defense allows it to be.

I see the Red Raiders winning this evening 62-31 over Kansas this evening.

The game will be well in hand before the Jayhawks begin moving the football, because the Texas Tech defense will look to stop the run and force the Kansas passing game to beat them. There will be a few throws that beat the defense, but overall the approach should lead to turnovers and punting situations for the Jayhawks.

Pat Mahomes and the offense do their thing with ease at home. Derrick Willies has a breakout game and grabs a few touchdown passes.

Texas Tech will score 50-plus tonight, that's a given. The Kansas offense doesn't have the firepower to keep up but will the Red Raider defense make the Jayhawks look better than they are? Not tonight. Red Raider fans will be pleasantly surprised by the defensive showing.