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Arkansas opened as a -2.5 favorite versus Texas Tech in Friday's Liberty Bowl game. This one has since moved to a PICK'EM.
Arkansas will be without four key Razorbacks who opted out to start prepping for the NFL draft, including wide receiver Andrew Armstrong and defensive linemen Eric Gregory and Landon Jackson. The biggest hit may be running back Ja'Quinden Jackson, who led the Razorbacks with 15 TDs and was part of an offense that ranked second in the SEC and 10th nationally with 32 rushing touchdowns.
Texas Tech (8-4, 6-3 Big 12) wrapped the regular season winning its last two, including a rout of West Virginia. The Red Raiders also won this bowl, sponsored by AutoZone, in 2021 by routing Mississippi State. A win Friday night would give Texas Tech its first nine-win season since 2009.
With Behren Morton choosing shoulder surgery after the regular season, true freshman Will Hammond will make his first start for Texas Tech. He will be the eighth freshman quarterback in school history to start and the second to do so in a bowl. He joins Davis Webb, who led the Red Raiders to a win in the 2013 Holiday Bowl over Arizona State.
The Red Raiders will be without wide receiver Josh Kelly, who caught 89 passes for 1,023 yards and five touchdowns. He ranked eighth in the Football Bowl Subdivision for receptions, but Kelly is prepping for the NFL draft. Texas Tech was the third collegiate stop for the sixth-year senior after four seasons at Fresno State and one at Washington State.
With all the unknowns, this game is especially difficult to bet.
Player props are limited or virtually nonexistent as a result.
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