Texas Tech vs Arkansas prediction & betting tips - Dec. 27 - Liberty Bowl

The Texas Tech Red Raiders will play the Arkansas Razorbacks on Friday at 7 p.m. ET in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. The game can be seen on ESPN. Texas Tech (8-4) ended its season with a 52-15 win over West Virginia. Arkansas (6-6) ended its season with a 28-21 loss to Missouri.

Texas Tech vs. Arkansas: Preview

Texas Tech is a 1.5-point underdog, with the over/under set at 52 points.

The Red Raiders had a good season, but several key players are in the transfer portal and will not play. The full list of players is as follows:

• Brady Boyd, WR (transfer portal)
• Micah Hudson, WR (transfer portal)
• Miles Thompson, CB (transfer portal)
• Cameran Brown, QB (transfer portal)
• Jake Strong, QB (transfer portal)
• Cam'Ron Valdez, RB (injury)
• D.J. Crest, WR (transfer portal)
• Jordan Brown, WR (transfer portal)
• Dalton Merryman, OL (transfer portal)
• Garrett Morphis, OL (transfer portal)
• Kaden Carr, OL (transfer portal)
• Ty Buchanan, OL (transfer portal)
• Vinny Sciury, OL (injury)
• E'Maurion Banks, DL (injury)
• Ty'Kieast Crawford, DL (transfer portal)
• Dylan Spencer, LB (injury)
• Joseph Adedire, LB (injury)
• Justin Horne, LB (injury)
• Jalon Peoples, CB (transfer portal)
• Javeon Wilcox, S (transfer portal))
• Kaden Turner, P (transfer portal)

The Red Raiders will be led by Behren Morton, who threw for 3,335 yards, 27 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Tahj Brooks is the team's starting running back, having rushed for 1,505 yards and 17 touchdowns this season.

Arkansas, meanwhile, had backup QB Malachi Singleton, who transferred to Purdue and is one of the most impact players not playing for the Razorbacks in the bowl game. The full list is as follows:

• Brad Spence, LB (transfer portal)
• Joshua Braun, OL (transfer portal)
• Nico Davillier, EDGE (transfer portal)
• Luke Hasz, TE (transfer portal)
• Patrick Kutas, OL (transfer portal)
• Malachi Singleton, QB (transfer portal)
• Davion Dozier, WR (transfer portal)
• Tyrus Washington, TE (transfer portal)
• Var’Keyes Gumms, TE (transfer portal)
• Jaedon Wilson, WR (transfer portal)

The Razorbacks are led by Taylen Green, who has thrown for 2,813 yards, 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Ja'Quinden Jackson has rushed for 790 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Both teams have their starting quarterbacks and running backs playing in the bowl game, which should make it one of the better bowl games on the schedule.

This should be a high-scoring game, as both offenses are great while the defenses have some question marks. However, Green should be able to have success throwing and running the ball, which will lead Arkansas to a field goal win.

Prediction: Arkansas 30, Texas Tech 27

Texas Tech vs. Arkansas: Betting Tips

Tip 1: Arkansas ML (-118)

Tip 2: Arkansas -1.5 (-110)

Tip 3: Over 52 points (-108)