Texas Tech vs. Colorado Recap: 26 Straight Points, Four Interceptions

Texas Tech beat Colorado 29-7 on the road, and it took a while to get there. Colorado scored on its opening drive, an 8-yard touchdown pass from Isaac Wilson to Joseph Williams, and still led 7-3 at halftime. Then the Red Raiders scored 26 straight points. Colorado outgained Texas Tech 375 to 315, but threw four interceptions while Texas Tech had zero turnovers. Six DARIMARKET plays cashed on this game.

What cashed

Texas Tech ML (-600 at DraftKings): CASHED

• Our read: Texas Tech came in 4-0 as a 13.5-point road favorite over a 2-2 Colorado team. Will Hammond had started every game, and the run game went three deep.
• What happened: Texas Tech won by 22. The run game did the heavy lifting: 181 rushing yards on 37 carries, led by J'Koby Williams with 17 carries for 88 yards and Quinten Joyner with 63 yards and a 30-yard touchdown run. Hammond was efficient, completing 17 of 26 passes for 134 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions.
• Worth watching: A big road favorite with a steady QB and a deep backfield held up even on a slow offensive night. That profile is worth a look again.

ALT: Texas Tech -6.5 (alt, targeted -170 to -200): CASHED

• Our read: The main line was -13.5, so -6.5 gave a full touchdown of room. Colorado was switching quarterbacks mid-season, and its top pass rusher, Lamont Lester Jr., was listed doubtful or questionable before the game.
• What happened: Texas Tech covered by 15.5. This one looked shaky at halftime with Colorado ahead 7-3. The cushion came from turnovers: Texas Tech kicked field goals after two Colorado interceptions, went 79 yards for an 11-yard Terrance Carter Jr. touchdown after another, and John Curry returned one for a score with 7:10 left.
• Worth watching: The alt spread let the favorite win ugly and still cash. When the main number is double digits, a trimmed line is worth pricing.

ALT: Under 57.5 total points (alt, targeted -170 to -200): CASHED

• Our read: The main total sat at 49.5 to 50.5. Colorado was starting a new QB, and Texas Tech had been winning with defense and the run game.
• What happened: The game finished at 36 points, 21.5 under. The second quarter was scoreless, and the half ended 7-3. Three field goal tries were no good, two of them Colorado's.
• Worth watching: Padding an under that already fits the matchup gave this one a lot of room. Same idea applies when both teams lean on defense and the run.

Under 49.5 total points (-112 at DraftKings): CASHED

• Our read: This was a long shot by our numbers, under 65 confidence. Colorado was scoring 21.5 a game and Texas Tech was allowing 18.5. An outside model leaned under 50.5, and the number had already dropped a point.
• What happened: 36 points, 13.5 under. Colorado's offense scored only on its first drive. After that, its drives ended in punts, turnovers on downs, field goals that were no good and four interceptions. Colorado converted 6 of 16 third downs.
• Worth watching: A falling total that matches the scoring averages is worth noting. This one never got close to the line.

ALT: Joseph Williams 45+ receiving yards (alt, targeted -170 to -200): CASHED

• Our read: Williams was Colorado's top target at 90 yards a game, with 127 the week before. A 45-yard floor left room even if Colorado rotated quarterbacks.
• What happened: Williams finished with 10 catches for 93 yards and a touchdown, 48.5 yards over. He had 7 catches for 62 yards by halftime, and a 6-yard catch with 3:19 left in the second quarter took him past 45.
• Worth watching: A clear top target on a team likely to trail is a good fit for a lowered receiving number.

Joseph Williams over 66.5 receiving yards (-115): CASHED

• Our read: Another long shot by our numbers. Williams had 22 catches for 361 yards and went 11 catches for 127 at Baylor. With Colorado a 13.5-point home dog, we expected it to throw late.
• What happened: He cleared it by 26.5 yards. Williams had no catches in the third quarter, when he threw an interception on a pass of his own. His 20-yard catch early in the fourth quarter moved him from 62 to 82 yards, and he added two more. Wilson threw 44 times.
• Worth watching: Game script did the work here. When a receiver's team should be chasing, his yardage line is worth a look.

How the game played out

Colorado had chances early, with a 12-play drive in the first quarter ending in a 29-yard field goal try that was no good. Texas Tech's offense was quiet too, converting 3 of 12 third downs. Stone Harrington made field goals from 52, 27 and 46 yards, and the defense did the rest.

Trends to watch

• Colorado's four turnovers were all interceptions, and Texas Tech scored after every one of them.
• Texas Tech ran 37 times for 181 yards, while Colorado ran for 78.
• Colorado's Elliott Arnold was 0-for-2 on field goals, which left points on the board in a low-scoring game.

Stats are from the ESPN box score. New to these markets? Read up on the alt line and totals, or see more at the college football hub.