In mid-August, when we last tried to handicap week-by-week outcomes for the Texas Tech football team, our crystal ball said the Red Raiders would be undefeated after five games, go into the regular-season finale with a chance to finish unbeaten at Jones AT&T Stadium and wind up 8-4.

So much for being spotless through September. Washington State wrecked that in Week 2. Being perfect at home still seems doable, though the Colorado Buffaloes appear more of a threat to change that. An 8-4 finish? Still sounds about right.

Tech has no grounds to complain about the schedule. The Red Raiders don't play Utah, upstart Brigham Young and Kansas State — teams ranked Nos. 18, 19 and 20 in this week's US LBM coaches poll. Nor do they tangle with Central Florida or Kansas. That means Tech doesn't have to deal with the surprise team of the conference so far and four of the Big 12's top five rushers after Tahj Brooks.

More: Is Texas Tech football's Joey McGuire changing his approach to fourth down? | Don Williams

The Red Raiders are 4-1, 2-0 in the Big 12, so they'll need to win four of their remaining seven games to make the final record in the preseason forecast come to fruition.

This week, we take a second look at the remaining schedule. We rank the Red Raiders' chances with 1 being the game they're most likely to win and 7 being the game they're least likely to win.

Saturday at Arizona

Record/ranking in US LBM coaches poll: 3-1, 1-0 in the Big 12; receiving votes

Wildcats' stock: Unchanged

What's shaking: Kansas State gave Arizona a rude intro to Big 12 football, winning a non-conference meeting in Manhattan 31-7. However, the Wildcats reestablished their bona fides last week by dismantling preseason favorite Utah at Rice-Eccles Stadium, where the Utes were 33-2 in their previous 35 games. Tech coach Joey McGuire says slippery UA quarterback Noah Fifita reminds him of Kyler Murray. Fifita and receiver Tetairoa McMillan alone are a bad matchup for a Tech pass defense that ranks 131st of 133 FBS teams.

Rank: 7

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Oct. 19, Baylor

Record/ranking: 2-3, 0-2; unranked

Bears' stock: Unchanged

What's shaking: Baylor coach Dave Aranda is trying to keep his job, which is no different than what many expected when the Bears were picked 12th in the preseason coaches' poll. The heat only intensified with the Bears' disastrous finish at Colorado. Considering Baylor's been competitive against Utah, Colorado and surprising Brigham Young and has as favorable a November schedule as a Big 12 team could want, the Bears might well win another two or three games. For Tech's sake, it just better not be this game.

Rank: 1

Oct. 26, at TCU

Record/ranking: 3-2, 1-1; unranked

Horned Frogs' stock: Down

What's shaking: Joey McGuire stewed all offseason about ways to get better on the road. His Tech teams are 14-3 in Lubbock, 5-9 elsewhere, counting two bowl victories. He's stressed needing to win late-season games in Fort Worth, Ames and Stillwater if the Red Raiders want to be serious contenders. TCU's taken a hard fall since its run to the College Football Playoff championship game two years ago. On the other hand, Josh Hoover, fourth in the FBS in passing yards per game and passing touchdowns, presents a problem.

Rank: 3

More: Big 12 power rankings: What Kansas State football's done to be No. 1

Nov. 2, at Iowa State

Record/ranking: 4-0, 1-0; No. 16

Cyclones' stock: Up

What's shaking: The Cyclones beat Iowa in Iowa City for the second time in three seasons. A 20-0 win at Houston was the program's first road shutout of a conference opponent since 1971, and it made Matt Campbell the Iowa State career coaching victories leader with 57. This shapes up as strength against strength with Tech currently No. 16 in the FBS in scoring offense and Iowa State No. 4 in scoring defense. A potential red flag for the Red Raiders: Three weeks in a row, Tech's given up a play longer than 65 yards, and Iowa State sophomore Abu Samu has six career rushing touchdowns longer than 50.

Rank: 5

Nov. 9, Colorado

Record/ranking: 4-1, 2-0; receiving votes

Buffaloes' stock: Up

What's shaking: When's the right time to start believing in the Buffs? Not after their 3-0 start last year. How about now? CU had that miracle finish against Baylor, then followed up by drubbing Central Florida in Orlando. One thing's for sure: You can believe in the talent of quarterback Shedeur Sanders and two-way sensation Travis Hunter, who's striking a Heisman pose. They alone make Colorado a handful for any Big 12 team, including Tech.

Rank: 4

More: 2025 NFL mock draft: Travis Hunter rises all the way to top of first round

Nov. 23, at Oklahoma State

Record/ranking: 3-2, 0-2; receiving votes

Cowboys' stock: Down

What's shaking: Losses to Utah and Kansas State might have already eliminated Oklahoma State from Big 12 title-game contention. The Cowboys' offense was an issue in both, which shouldn't be the case for a team with a seventh-year senior at quarterback, a Doak Walker Award winner and the most experienced offensive line in the country. Bet against Mike Gundy at your own risk, though. In 2016, OSU lost at home to Central Michigan, last year it got blown out at home by South Alabama, and the Cowboys finished both seasons with 10 wins.

Rank: 6

Nov. 30, West Virginia

Record/ranking: 2-2, 1-0; unranked

Mountaineers' stock: Unchanged

What's shaking: West Virginia's been all about wild finishes lately. The Mountaineers blew a 34-24 lead in the last four minutes of a loss to Pittsburgh and rallied from a 28-17 deficit in the last four minutes to beat Kansas after a weather delay. The Red Raiders can expect to see a heavy dose of dual-threat QB Garrett Greene and big back C.J. Donaldson, but their recent history against the Mountaineers is a plus. Tech had won four in a row in the series before last year, and two of Tahj Brooks's 16 career 100-yard rushing performances came against WVU.

Rank: 2

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech football schedule second look: Ranking the last 7 opponents