Cincinnati (3-1, 1-0 Big 12) at Texas Tech (3-1, 1-0), Saturday 8 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
BetMGM College Football Odds: Texas Tech by 3 1/2.
Series record: Tied 0-0-1.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Texas Tech takes a five-game home winning streak into its first Big 12 matchup against the Bearcats. The Red Raiders have a sellout as they play at home for the third week in a row, and opened conference play last week with a 30-22 win over Arizona State. Cincinnati is coming off a 34-0 win over Houston, which was the Bearcats’ first shutout of a major conference opponent since 1995.
KEY MATCHUP
Corey Kiner and Cincinnati’s rushing game vs. an improving Texas Tech defense. Kiner is seventh in the Big 12 with 101 yards rushing per game, and the Bearcats average 197.5 a game. Arizona State was held by Tech last week to 94 yards rushing, well below its 229 average going into the game. The Red Raiders have allowed 229 yards rushing total in their past two games since Washington State piled up 301 against them.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Cincinnati: Nose tackle Dontay Corleone has 15 tackles and a sack for the Bearcats, who have allowed fewer yards in each successive game since his return after missing the season opener.
Texas Tech: Behren Morton is 9-2 as the starting quarterback for the Red Raiders. He has thrown a Big 12-best 12 touchdowns with only two interceptions while averaging 293.8 yards passing per game.
FACTS & FIGURES
The only previous meeting was a 10-10 tie in the 1968 season opener. … Texas Tech (487.5 yards per game) and Cincinnati (467.5) rank 2-3 in the Big 12 in total offense. … Indiana transfer QB Brandan Sorsby has eight TDs without an interception in his 118 pass attempts for the Bearcats. … The Red Raiders are 13-3 at home under third-year coach Joey McGuire. … Johncarlos Miller is the first Tech tight end with receiving TDs in three consecutive games since Mickey Peters in 2002.
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