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The Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders game should be one of the most anticipated of the week. The Red Raiders are the toast of College Football right now. The odds on this game have moved only a bit from Texas Tech -3 ½ to -3 but at most online sportsbooks, the line has been steady at -3 (see betting on this game and get a 15 percent cash bonus with your first deposit at Sports Interaction).
Second-ranked Texas Tech doesn't have a lot of time to bask in the biggest victory in school history.
Coach Mike Leach says it is time to prepare for another top 10 team's visit to Lubbock with No. 8 Oklahoma State on the way Saturday.
Leach is concerned about the difficulty his players could face in putting behind them last week's last-second 39-33 win over the Longhorns -- the Red Raiders' first in the last six tries against Texas.
"I hope it's not (difficult) but you worry," said Leach, whose Red Raiders have the nation's and the school's longest win streak with 11 straight victories. "We've done a pretty good job this year, just trying to keep everybody in perspective."
In years past, the Texas game was tantamount to the Red Raiders' Super Bowl. Win it and the season could be dubbed successful. Now, though, Tech is unbeaten and a loss after beating the 'Horns could foul up its now-very-real shot at the national championship.
Oklahoma State, which is coming off a 59-17 win over Iowa State, has won three of the last five games against Texas Tech but hasn't beaten the Red Raiders in Lubbock since 1944.
Texas Tech is halfway through a four-game stretch against ranked opponents. They've beaten then-No. 19 Kansas and the 'Horns. After hosting the Cowboys, the Red Raiders have a bye week before traveling to Norman, Okla., to face the No. 6 Sooners
The Red Raiders' ranking this week is the highest in the program's history, which dates to 1925, and it's the first time since 1938 they've started 9-0.
The ranking isn't important, defensive end Jake Ratliff said.
"We don't pay attention to it," he said. "It's just a number and it really doesn't matter."
The home team in this series is a remarkable 9-1. Against The Spread and Straight Up, Texas Tech is 6-4 in this series. All of Texas Tech's home games were won by more than the current spread.
Gambling911.com loves Texas Tech as a -3 favorite in this one. Bet it at Sports Interaction
Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
