2014
Texas Longhorns
College Football
Betting Preview
Schedule and Odds
Despite only eight wins last year, the Longhorns were really close to winning the Big 12. Instead, they didn’t, losing five Games in total and they brought in new head coach Charlie Strong in the process. Once again, Texas should fight for a top position in the conference, but don’t expect them to take the title.
5 dimes sportsbook lists Texas at odds of 63 to 1 to win the National Championship this year and their over/under win total opened at 8.5 wins and bettors have hammered the under on that prop. The moneyline on the under is now -185.
The biggest question for the Longhorns comes at quarterback where David Ash is the likely starter, but he’s battled injuries for the past year. Having a question at QB is not what you want in the Big 12. If Ash gets hurt, a couple unknown commodities will take his place. The offense will lean heavily on its stacked running Game behind Malcolm Brown (904 yards), Johnathan Gray (780 yards) and Joe Bergeron (362 yards. They lose three starters on the offensive line which could prove trouble, but this should still be a top running Game.
Jaxon Shipley (589 yards) and Kendall Sanders (361 yards) will get the majority of looks in the passing Game. If Ash and his receivers can’t get things going, they’ll likely find themselves with eight wins again for the season. In the Longhorns’ two Conference losses last season, they scored a total of 23 points. That isn’t enough.
The defense also needs to see some improvement, and Strong brought in his buddy from Louisville, DC Vance Bedford to do the trick. This unit returns nine starters so the pieces are there. DE Cedric Reed and CB Quandre Diggs are all-Conference players and lead this unit, but the linebacking core needs some work. Jordan Hicks will lead the group, but he and Steve Edmond are coming off an Achilles and lacerated liver injury, respectively.
First things first, the Longhorns can’t lose two of their three non-Conference Games again. They’ll face BYU again (lost 40-21 last year) followed by UCLA in Arlington. The Game against UCLA will be tough, but it could also be the makings of an upset with a California team coming to Texas. Of course, their QB play has to be figured out by then.
Getting Baylor and Oklahoma in back-to-back Games to start October could easily decide Texas’ season in the Big 12. Both teams are expected to finish atop the conference. And for the Longhorns to finish with a respectable record, they’ll need to show up in road Games at Kansas State, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State. They face those three teams in a matter of Four weeks.
The road looks tough, but it isn’t impossible for this team. With already a solid running Game, they have the pieces, but just need to step up, and this can be a very difficult team to beat. If the defense continues to struggle against Big 12 foes and Ash can’t be a consistent QB, then it’s going to be a rough season. This team may be looking at eight or so wins again, which isn’t all that bad, but not all that good either.
2014 Texas Longhorns Football Schedule
Aug. 30 vs. North Texas
Sept. 6 vs. BYU
Sept. 13 vs. UCLA (in Arlington)
Sept. 27 at Kansas
Oct. 4 vs. Baylor
Oct. 11 vs. Oklahoma (in Dallas)
Oct. 18 vs. Iowa State
Oct. 25 at Kansas State
Nov. 1 at Texas Tech
Nov. 8 at West Virginia
Nov. 15 at Oklahoma State
Nov. 27 vs. TCU