On Saturday afternoon, the No. 8 Texas Longhorns (1-0, 0-0 Big 12) travel to Lubbock to take on in-state rival the Texas Tech Red Raiders (1-0, 0-0 Big 12). Both teams won their season openers against inferior opponents and will now turn their attention to the Big 12 Conference slate for the remainder of the season.
The two teams kick off at 3:30 p.m. EST inside Jones AT&T Stadium. You can watch the game nationally on FOX.
The Longhorns are a 17.5-point favorite in the matchup, according to oddsmakers.
What to Know – Texas Longhorns
The Longhorns took care of business against UTEP two weeks ago in their home opener, thumping the Miners 59-3 in Austin. Texas ranked third behind Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in the preseason conference polls. The Longhorns finished 5-4 in Big 12 play last season, which included a 49-24 throttling of the Red Raiders at home.
Senior signal-caller Sam Ehlinger returned for his final season after being projected as a mid-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Ehlinger improved his draft stock in the opener, completing 25-of-33 passes for 426 yards and five touchdowns. His top target was sophomore Joshua Moore, who hauled in nine passes for 127 yards and a score.
Texas did most of its damage through the air and did not need much support from the running game. Junior Keaontay Ingram led the Longhorns rushing attack with nine carries for 44 yards. Sophomore Roschon Johnson (eight carries, 38 yards) and freshman Bijan Robinson (five carries, 38 yards) also saw action in the rushing attack.
The Longhorns defense surrendered 233 yards of offense against the Miners, including just 43 yards rushing on 33 attempts to average a measly 1.3 yards per carry. The point total was the lowest allowed by a Longhorns defense since pitching a shutout against San Jose State in 2017.
What to Know – Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech escaped a near disaster with a narrow 35-33 victory over FCS foe Houston Baptist. The Red Raiders led 35-20 early in the fourth quarter before Houston Baptist scored a pair of touchdowns.
However, the Huskies missed the ensuing two-point conversion with 3:23 remaining allowing Texas Tech to win a game that was close than it should have been. The Red Raiders are coming off a 2-7 conference record last season in head coach Matt Wells’ first season.
The Red Raiders continued their offensive style of recent years and aired the ball out. Sophomore quarterback Alan Bowman completed 38-of-52 passes for 430 yards and two touchdowns. Bowman completed passes to 11 different Red Raiders. Leading the way was junior wide receiver KeSean Carter who caught six passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. Senior T.J. Vasher added eight receptions for 79 yards.
Sophomore running back SaRodorick Thompson eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in the game, carrying the ball 22 times for 118 yards and a pair touchdowns.
The Red Raiders defense allowed Houston Baptist to gain 572 yards through the air to just 28 total yards on the ground. The Huskies moved the ball up and down the field with no rushing threat, which does not bode well for Texas Tech this weekend.
The Pick is In
The Longhorns took care of business against the Red Raiders last season, and this game will be no different. Like many of these games, oddsmakers predict a shootout, with the over/under set at 69 points.
Ehlinger should have his way through the air against the Red Raiders, and the Longhorns defense will make enough plays to hold off Texas Tech from challenging Texas. The pick here is the Longhorns against the 17.5-point spread.
