Texas Tech Red Raiders defeat Houston Cougars 28-26: Recap & Betting Results
Fri, Sep 18, 2026 · NCAAF · Houston Cougars 26, Texas Tech Red Raiders 28
The Texas Tech Red Raiders beat the Houston Cougars 28-26 on Friday, September 18, 2026, at Galaxy Stadium. The Houston Cougars covered the spread as 7.5-point underdogs. The game went over the closing total of 52.5, with 54 points combined. AiQ's player props in this game went 8-2.
Houston Cougars vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders final score and game recap
The Houston Cougars led 10-0 after the first quarter and 17-14 at halftime. The Texas Tech Red Raiders outscored the Houston Cougars 14-9 in the second half.
The leading performers, from the box score:
- Conner Weigman (Houston Cougars): 27/38 passing for 282 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions.
- Amare Thomas (Houston Cougars): 7 catches for 75 yards, 1 receiving touchdown.
- Will Hammond (Texas Tech Red Raiders): 17/27 passing for 257 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception.
- Kenny Johnson (Texas Tech Red Raiders): 4 catches for 113 yards, 1 receiving touchdown.
Who covered the spread in Houston Cougars vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders?
The Houston Cougars covered the spread as 7.5-point underdogs, losing by 2 points.
The spread opened and closed at Texas Tech Red Raiders -7.5.
Did Houston Cougars vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders go over or under the total?
The game went over: 54 points combined against a closing total of 52.5, over by 1.5. 31 of the 54 points came in the first half.
The total opened at 53 and closed at 52.5.
How did AiQ's Houston Cougars vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders predictions do?
AiQ's player props in this game went 8-2.
- Player props: 8-2, +$404.07 on $100 a pick at the listed prices.
Houston Cougars vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders player prop results
AiQ's player prop picks went 8-2 in this game, +$404.07 on $100 a pick at the listed prices.
- Conner Weigman: under 1.5 passing touchdowns at -176, finished with 3, a loss.
- Koby Young: over 1.5 receptions at -164, finished with 2, a win.
- Amare Thomas (Houston Cougars): over 5.5 receptions at -118, finished with 7, a win.
- Will Hammond (Texas Tech Red Raiders): under 1.5 passing touchdowns at -156, finished with 1, a win.
- Kenny Johnson (Texas Tech Red Raiders): over 3.5 receptions at -164, finished with 4, a win.
- Terrance Carter Jr. (Texas Tech Red Raiders): over 2.5 receptions at -137, finished with 2, a loss.
- Trent Walker: under 2.5 receptions at -124, finished with 2, a win.
- Coy Eakin (Texas Tech Red Raiders): under 3.5 receptions at -124, finished with 3, a win.
- Patrick Overmyer (Houston Cougars): over 3.5 receptions at -126, finished with 8, a win.
- J'Koby Williams: over 2.5 receptions at -108, finished with 3, a win.
Houston Cougars vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders game prop results: team totals, first quarter and first half
AiQ does not pick game props. This is how the sportsbook markets settled.
- Texas Tech Red Raiders team total 30.5: the under, paying +100, with 28 scored.
- First-quarter moneyline: Houston Cougars won the first quarter, paying +160.
- First-half total 26.5: the over, paying -115, with 31 points scored.
- First-half moneyline: Houston Cougars won the first half, paying +190.
- First-half spread: Houston Cougars +4.5 covered, paying -110.
- First-quarter total 10.5: the under, paying -120, with 10 points scored.
- Houston Cougars team total 21.5: the over, paying -108, with 26 scored.
Houston Cougars vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders odds: sportsbook value and line movement
Shortly before the start, the consensus moneyline had the Houston Cougars at +250 and the Texas Tech Red Raiders at -315. With the bookmaker's margin removed, that made the Texas Tech Red Raiders a 73% favorite. The Texas Tech Red Raiders won as the favorite at -315: $31.75 profit on a $100 bet.
The total moved down from 53 to 52.5, and the game went over.
Houston Cougars and Texas Tech Red Raiders betting trends: 2026 season
This result left the Houston Cougars 2-1 in the 2026 regular season (2-0 at home, 0-1 away or at neutral sites). Against the spread, they covered in 2 of 3 games with a closing line on file. All three of their games with a closing total went over.
This result left the Texas Tech Red Raiders 3-0 in the 2026 regular season (2-0 at home, 1-0 away or at neutral sites). Against the spread, they covered in 0 of 3 games with a closing line on file. Their games went over the closing total 2 times and under 1 time. That made it three straight wins for the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
What's next for Houston Cougars and Texas Tech Red Raiders?
Next for the Houston Cougars: at the Georgia Southern Eagles on Saturday, September 26, 2026. Next for the Texas Tech Red Raiders: the Sam Houston Bearkats at home on Saturday, September 26, 2026.