With the College Football Playoff approaching, conference championship weekend carries plenty of weight for how the field continues to shake out. Saturday kicks off with a critical showdown between #11 BYU and #4 Texas Tech.
The weekend bout (12:00 p.m. ET on ABC) features two high-flying programs going head-to-head in the Big 12 Championship. It’s a home contest for the Red Raiders, seeing them host the Cougars at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.
Here, we’ll break down a BYU vs. Texas Tech prediction and picks for the Big 12 Championship on Saturday. Use PrizePicks’ CFB game for player projections on QB Bear Bachmeier and others.
BYU vs. Texas Tech Prediction, Preview for Saturday, 12/6
With BYU being relatively new to the Big 12 still, they haven’t faced Texas Tech too often. Saturday marks the fourth all-time clash between programs, with the Red Raiders boasting a 1-2 series lead that includes a 29-7 triumph back on Nov. 11.
The Cougars enter Saturday’s game as 13.5-point road underdogs, returning a 4.34x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if they win outright.
The Red Raiders are home favorites with a 1.17x payout if they win, via PrizePicks Team Picks.
- Spread: Texas Tech Red Raiders -13.5
- Total: 50.5
- Game Winner Payout: Cougars 4.34x | Red Raiders 1.17x
All payouts listed are at the time of writing and are subject to change.
BYU Cougars Preview vs. Texas Tech
The 2024 campaign was a great one for BYU, as they went 11-2 and emerged victorious over Colorado in the Alamo Bowl.
This season sees more of the same for the Cougars, as their only 2025 loss is to Texas Tech. Head coach Kalani Sitake is sticking around, too, which is tremendous news.
BYU’s offense sits 30th in per-game scoring (30.8 points) and 45th in yards per play (5.8). An efficient red zone attack has them converting on 91.3% of trips — 16th nationally.
That red zone efficiency carries over to the other side as well. The Cougars own the sixth-best defense there (72.09%), also slotting in at 17th in scoring (19.4 PPG).
Texas Tech Red Raiders Preview vs. BYU
The past few years all bled together for Texas Tech. They went 8-5 in both 2022 and 2024, with a 7-6 2023 campaign sandwiched in between.
Thanks to an excellent offseason, the Red Raiders are reaping the rewards now. They’re 11-1 with a lone defeat at the hands of Arizona State, 26-22, on Oct. 18.
Texas Tech scores more points per game (41) than all but four programs. The program is remarkably effective on third downs, converting on 50.56% of them, which is sixth nationwide.
Somehow, the Red Raiders’ defense is even better. It ranks second in opposing yards per play (3.9) and scoring (11.6 PPG).
BYU vs. Texas Tech Big 12 Championship Picks for PrizePicks
Below are prime BYU vs. Texas Tech Big 12 Championship picks to consider for Week 15. PrizePicks player projections include QBs Bear Bachmeier and Behren Morton and RB Cameron Dickey.
BYU QB Bear Bachmeier vs. Texas Tech Projection: 218.5 Pass + Rush Yards
- Bachmeier averages 260.2 combined passing and rushing yards per game. In his last five outings, that number is 275.4.
- Per Pro Football Focus, out of 20 Big 12 QBs with 100+ dropbacks, Bachmeier’s 8.0 yards per attempt ranks fourth.
- The true freshman signal-caller is 60th out of 132 qualified passers in total EPA at 54.09, via Game on Paper.
- Bachmeier has 10+ rush attempts and 40+ yards in seven of his last nine contests.
Texas Tech QB Behren Morton vs. BYU Projection: 246.5 Pass Yards
- In his senior campaign, Morton leads the conference in completion percentage (67.8), adjusted yards per attempt (9.92), and rating (165.9).
- The fifth-year man averages 242.8 passing yards per game.
- Morton’s 4.79 yards per dropback sits 42nd among 132 QBs in the Game on Paper database.
- While BYU’s defense is a 79th-percentile group in pass EPA per play, it falls to the 62nd percentile in yards per dropback.
Texas Tech RB Cameron Dickey vs. BYU Projection: 76.5 Rush Yards
- A true sophomore, Dickey leads the Big 12 with 13 rushing TDs and 15 scrimmage scores.
- Dickey averages 85.3 rushing yards per game, including a 92.3-yard mark in his last three outings.
- In November’s meeting between BYU and Texas Tech, Dickey ran for 121 yards and a TD.
- The Cougars’ run defense sits 58th in success rate (40.7%) and 55th in EPA/play (0.00).
Make #11 BYU vs. #4 Texas Tech Picks on PrizePicks
As the college football campaign winds down, BYU vs. Texas Tech Big 12 Championship picks are far from the only ones to consider in Week 15. With PrizePicks’ real-money CFB game, you can cash in on the action.
Doing so is simple. Just pick your players, predict More or Less for their projected stats, and win rewards if you’re right.
Keep it here with the Playbook for continued college football coverage.
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