2013 Record: 8-5

2014 Las Vegas Season Win Total: 6.5*

2014 Season Win Total Picks NCAA Football: 'Over'

Second-year coach Kliff Kingsbury has completely rejuvenated the Texas Tech program, bringing back the high-scoring, freewheeling point machine that the Red Raiders were used to in the Mike Leach Era. Tech won eight games last season and pulled a huge upset, winning outright as a 14-point underdog, in the Holiday Bowl. We'll see if the Red Raiders can build on that momentum this year.

Texas Tech has nine starters back from the nation's No. 2 passing and No. 8 total offense. Sophomore quarterback Davis Webb looks like the real deal and Kingsbury's system - learned at the feet of Kevin Sumlin - is proven. But like so many teams in the Big 12 the Red Raiders' season will come down to its revamped defense.

The Red Raiders have a pair of cupcakes to open the year and will host still-rebuilding Arkansas in their first real test. The league schedule has them playing tough road games at OSU, at Kansas State, at TCU and versus Baylor in Arlington. Their two most difficult games, Oklahoma and Texas, are in Lubbock. But they could very well lose both of those.

A season win total of 6.5 may seem low for a team with as much buzz as Texas Tech. But that rough road schedule should have bettors thinking twice. Especially with a defense that welcomes back just three starters. That said, I don't see this team being upset so that's five wins in the bag. I think they can in at Iowa State for No. 6. That means the Red Raiders have to pull just one more rabbit out of their hat to top this total.

I would play this one 'over'. But I don't feel great about it.

2014 Texas Tech Red Raiders Schedule

DATE OPPONENT TIME (ET) Location Result

Sat, Aug 30th, 2014 Central Arkansas 07:00 PM Jones AT&T Stadium

Sat, Sep 6th, 2014 at Texas-El Paso 11:00 PM Sun Bowl

Sat, Sep 13th, 2014 Arkansas 03:30 PM Jones AT&T Stadium

Thu, Sep 25th, 2014 at Oklahoma State 07:30 PM Boone Pickens Stadium

Sat, Oct 4th, 2014 at Kansas State TBA Bill Snyder Family Football St

Sat, Oct 11th, 2014 West Virginia TBA Jones AT&T Stadium

Sat, Oct 18th, 2014 Kansas TBA Jones AT&T Stadium

Sat, Oct 25th, 2014 at TCU TBA Amon G. Carter Stadium

Sat, Nov 1st, 2014 Texas TBA Jones AT&T Stadium

Sat, Nov 15th, 2014 Oklahoma TBA Jones AT&T Stadium

Sat, Nov 22nd, 2014 at Iowa State TBA Jack Trice Stadium

Sat, Nov 29th, 2014 at Baylor TBA AT&T Stadium - Arlington, TX

All Times EST

*Season Win Total Odds from Raphael Esparza. Esparza was a Las Vegas sportsbook manager for 13 years at some of the largest books on The Strip. He is a proven oddsmaker and this is his projected total.

Robert Ferringo was the top football handicapper in the country last year, earning nearly $8,000 in total football profit in 2013-14 and posting one of the best seasons in America. He hit 62.1 percent for the entire NFL season (95-58) and was amazing down the stretch, closing with 11 of 14 winning NFL weeks and 12 of 15 overall winning football weeks. Robert has posted 3 of 4 winning football seasons, 6 of 7 winning NFL seasons, 30 of 44 winning football months, and 6 of 7 winning NFL preseasons. Also, Robert's proprietary KING College Football Betting System posted another winning season (now 2-for-2) and is 83-58 over the last two years (58.9 percent).

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