Kent State vs. Texas Tech Picks and Prediction, September 6, 2025
On Saturday, the Kent State Golden Flashes will play the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium in Week 2 NCAAF action. The Red Raiders are 48-point spread favorites, and the game total is 58.5 points scored.
This Kent State vs. Texas Tech prediction highlights a Golden Flashes team that won 21-17 in its season opener against a Red Raiders squad that was victorious 67-7. This is the first meeting between these programs. Kickoff from Lubbock, TX, is scheduled for noon ET.
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Kent State won its first game since 2023 last week
Kent State (1-0 SU, 0-1 ATS, and 0-1 O/U) went winless a season ago, becoming the first winless team in a full season since the 2019 Akron Zips. Kent went just 1-23 in two seasons under head coach Kenni Burns, who was replaced by interim coach Mark Carney in April.
The Golden Flashes finally got back in the win column last week, beating Merrimack by four points in the program's first win since a 38-10 decision over Central Connecticut on September 16, 2023. Kent State was narrowly outgained 340-308 by the Warriors, but a key special teams play was the difference-maker, as junior receiver Da'Realyst Clark returned a kickoff for a 100-yard touchdown.
Kent State is in the midst of another rebuild, with Carney and a slew of transfers leading the program onto the gridiron in 2025. The quarterback situation is a work in progress, as senior CJ Montes (6-for-9 passing for 91 yards and one TD versus Merrimack) and redshirt freshman Dru DeShields (6-for-10 passing for 118 yards and one TD) shared snaps last week. Montes earned the starting job after transferring from Fordham, where Carney played QB from 1998-2001. He was All-Patriot-League in 2023 after passing for 2,997 yards and a 27:1 TD:INT ratio, but was hampered by a lower-body injury last season.
Montes will play behind an offensive line that returns one starter and is without last year's top pass-catcher, Chrishon McCray, who transferred to Michigan State. Just one touchdown catch from 2024 returns, but freshman RB Cade Wolford (two receptions for 109 yards and two TDs) and senior WR Sebastian Brown (three receptions for 50 yards) made plays in Week 1. The Kent ground game ranked dead last nationally in yards per carry last season. Minnesota transfer RB Jordan Nubin missed the Merrimack game with an undisclosed injury, but is listed as a co-starter with junior RB Gavin Garcia (15 carries for 49 yards last week).
The Golden Flashes' defense ranked last nationally in total defense, scoring defense, and run defense in 2024. There's more returning talent on the defensive end than on offense, though. LBs Mason Woods (68 tackles in 2024) and Canaan Williams (46 stops) are back, along with S Tevin Tucker (65 tackles). Sophomore DB CJ Young (team-leading nine tackles vs Merrimack) could also be an impact player. The defensive line and cornerback groups feature many new faces, but that's good news for Kent supporters, as the Golden Flashes ranked 114th in both pass defense and sacks last year.
Kent State Golden Flashes Football Injury Report: No injuries to report for Saturday's college football game against Texas Tech.
Texas Tech may be a dark-horse title team in the Big 12
Texas Tech (1-0 SU, 1-0 ATS, and 1-0 O/U) was 8-5 last season, falling 39-26 to Arkansas in the Liberty Bowl. The Red Raiders fired defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter and secondary coach Marcel Yates after the season, as TTU allowed the second-most passing yards per game in the FBS. Offensive coordinator Zach Kittley also departed in the offseason, taking the head coaching job at Florida Atlantic. Texas Tech replaced them with Houston DC Shiel Wood and Texas State OC Mack Leftwich.
The Red Raiders cruised to a win in Week 1, defeating FCS opponent Arkansas-Pine Bluff by 60 points. Senior QB Behren Morton passed for 201 yards and four touchdowns before exiting the game following a sack in the second quarter. Tech outgained the Golden Lions 610-175 in total yards, passing for 314 (9.8 yards per pass) and rushing for 296 (10.8 yards per rush).
TTU is in its third season under head coach Joey McGuire. While the program hasn't made significant strides under the ex-Baylor assistant coach, the Red Raiders loaded up on transfers to make a move. USC RB transfer Quinton Joyner was unfortunately lost for the season, but sophomore RBs Cameron Dickey (13 carries for 90 yards and one TD last week) and J'Koby Williams (six carries for 56 yards and one TD) can be counted on to fill the void. They'll run behind a deep offensive line after TTU acquired tackles Howard Sampson (North Carolina) and Will Jados (Miami University), and guard Hunter Zambrano (Illinois State) from the portal. Morton will lead the passing game if he can stay healthy, which has been an issue for the signal-caller. He should benefit from passing to a talented group of receivers, as the top four pass-catchers from last week's win are experienced.
The Texas Tech defense allowed 35 points or more eight times last season, as the pass rush was nonexistent (92nd in sacks). That certainly could change in 2025, as the Red Raiders retooled the defensive line in the offseason. DTs A.J. Holmes Jr. (Houston), Lee Hunter (UCF), and Skyler Gill-Howard (Northern Illinois) were disruptive at their former schools (combined 28.5 TFLs, 32 run stops, and 8 sacks last year), and edge rushers David Bailey (Stanford) and Romello Height (Georgia Tech) can create havoc (9.5 combined sacks in 2024). The linebacking group returns tacking machines Jacob Rodriguez and Ben Roberts, while the DB unit returns safeties AJ McCarty and Chapman Lewis.
Texas Tech Red Raiders Football Injury Report: QB Behren Morton (knee) and QB Lloyd Jones (undisclosed) are questionable to play in Saturday's Week 2 NCAAF game versus Kent State.
Kent State vs. Texas Tech Pick
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Rob Vincilleti | +1,778.00 |
| 2 |  Ross Benjamin | +1,716.00 |
| 3 |  David Hess | +1,326.00 |
| 4 |  Earle Sports Bets | +1,323.00 |
| 5 |  Dan Kaiser | +1,071.00 |
Spread Pick for Kent State vs. Texas Tech
- Kent State +48 (4 Units)
The Golden Flashes secured an important win last week, and while I doubt they'll keep the score close, I feel confident they will cover the spread. Texas Tech is talented enough to win Saturday's football game without its starting QB Morton, but if he can't suit up, the Red Raiders will struggle to win by 49 or more. Kent State has an experienced signal-caller in Montes, who could pressure a TTU defense that was incredibly soft last season, ranking 133rd out of 134 FBS teams in passing defense. He had an elite TD:INT ratio in his last full season at Fordham, so if he picks his spots well, Kent State could easily cover the large number.
Over/Under Pick for Kent State vs. Texas Tech
- Over 58.5 (4 Units)
This total doesn't appear too high, given Montes' previous success at Fordham. Texas Tech must prove it has improved its pass defense before anyone gives its secondary the benefit of the doubt. I don't expect Kent State to put up a lot of points, but they should keep pace with Texas Tech for at least a quarter, leading to a higher-scoring game. The Red Raiders will score early and often against a Golden Flashes defense that ranked among the worst nationally in several statistics. Given how efficiently the home team's offense played last week, bettors can expect a barn burner on Saturday in Lubbock.
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