This should be a fun week for a good chunk of the Big 12. Texas Tech, TCU, Kansas State, Kansas, Iowa State, and Oklahoma all play their first Power 5 competition of the season on Saturday. Playing some better competition should hopefully give us some insight into how the conference stacks up. Here’s what the […]
Using Analytics to Inform Gambling Picks (Week 2)
Last Week’s Results The analytics identified A LOT of picks last weekend, and long story short: it got us into some trouble. We made 23 unit bets on 19 individual games betting money lines only (I’m still trying to figure out a system for betting against the spread). After leaving 23 units at the window, […]
By the Numbers: Texas Tech and Big 12 Outlook (Week 2)
With Week 0 and Week 1 now in the books, the various analytical models now have a sample size (albeit a small one) for each and every FBS team. As you’ll see, things have trended up for Texas Tech in most models after a convincing win over Montana State. Meanwhile, many of their Big 12 […]
Using Analytics to Inform Gambling Picks – Week 1
Last Week’s Results There weren’t many games during “Week 0”, but if you recall we had Hawaii identified as a high value pick against Arizona last weekend. Not only did Hawaii cover the spread, but they won outright, which means we cashed in on their +300 money line. Even better, since two different analytical models […]
What Does Success Look Like for Matt Wells in Year One?
It’s natural for a fan base to be anxious about the hiring of a brand new coach. In Texas Tech’s case, it’s especially natural for fans to be uncertain following three previous head coaches with distinct identities among Red Raider Nation. Mike Leach was the head coach from 2000 until his firing in 2009. He […]
Using Analytics to Inform Gambling Decisions
Yesterday, I did a giant preview of Texas Tech and the Big 12 using multiple analytical models. I mentioned that as a hobby, I track how these models perform relative to the oddsmakers in Las Vegas. Let me first say I don’t gamble. So when I write about picks each week, I’m not actually placing […]
By the Numbers: Texas Tech and Big 12 Preview
College football is right around the corner, and you know what that means. Fight songs, tailgates, highlight plays, and spreadsheets. Yes, spreadsheets. Lots and lots of spreadsheets. Last year I took an interest in college football analytics, mostly by referencing ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) for each and every college football matchup every saturday. I […]
By the Numbers: Texas Tech’s Recent Recruiting History
Matt Wells and company finally started picking up some momentum on the recruiting trail last weekend as they secured commitments from seven new prospects. The 2020 class is now up to 10 players, so it is probably just shy of halfway full. Regardless, I started wondering how this class might stack up against Kliff Kingsbury’s […]
Burn the Boats: The Story of Texas Tech Basketball and my Great Grandfather
“Burn the boats” was a motto introduced by Texas Tech Basketball during the 2017-2018 season during the team’s effort to overthrow the Big 12 dynasty of the Kansas Jayhawks. It’s a reference to a Spanish conquistador named Hernan Cortes and his journey from Spain to the Aztec empire in modern day Mexico. According to legend, […]
By the Numbers: Texas Tech’s NCAA Tournament Odds (Final Four)
History is fun to witness. Texas Tech is playing in the Final Four on Saturday for the first time in school history. It was an unlikely but far from impossible outcome. Before we preview the Final Four, let’s take a look at how likely Texas Tech’s run has been so far. Prior to the beginning […]