Josh Pate dropped his hypothetical College Football Playoff opening round lines this week, and the one that got the loudest reaction was simple: Texas Tech -21.5 against Tulane.
That’s not a typo. The Red Raiders were listed as three-touchdown favorites in a projected playoff game. Tulane might be coming off a solid season and has earned its way into the conversation, but according to FanDuel, they wouldn’t stand much of a chance against Joey McGuire’s group.
Now, betting lines aren’t gospel, but this one tells you exactly how the national media views Texas Tech right now. This isn’t some middle-of-the-pack Big 12 team sneaking in the back door. This is a team getting priced like they belong with the big boys, and not just belong, but controlling the game from kickoff to finish.
For Texas Tech, it’s exactly the kind of headline you want. This is what happens when you spend a few years building in the portal, stacking trenches, and handing the keys to a quarterback who can actually move the needle. The expectation now is to not just show up in a playoff game but show out. You don’t hang a -21.5 line on a team unless you think they can pour it on.
This is also the kind of number that draws attention from recruits, boosters, and playoff committees alike. Whether or not it plays out that way is irrelevant right now. The perception has already shifted.
Texas Tech isn’t just trying to get in the building anymore. They’re being positioned as the team that’s supposed to win when they get there.
