Big game in Austin this weekend. Overall, this weekend offers a very weak slate of games, thus ABC/ ESPN approaching the Tech and Texas program last February and asking them to move this game up 2 months from the scheduled November date to this weekend. It worked out for both programs, so they did it. It couldn't have worked out any better for Texas. They'll be tested, but at home in the updated cozy confines of the newly expanded Royal Memorial Stadium. Officials are expecting close to 102,000 people, which would be the largest attendance in the state of Texas history (this could be broken as soon as 24 hours after this game with the opening of Cowboy's Stadium the following night.) College Gameday will be in Austin, along with Colin Cowherd's radio program. This is one of only 2 games this year that Texas has the opportunity to whoo the voters nationwide. This is important due to the decline of the Big XII with huge losses by Oklahoma (BYU) and Oklahoma State (Houston) in recent weeks. The reason Texas covers this week, IF THEY DO, is simply due to Tech's anemic running game. People can say whatever they want about it in the past, but last year's running game of Tech made defenses respect the run, thus opening up the throwing game. This is a huge component of what Tech does. It is always overlooked. Tech has all of 92 yards, NINETY TWO YARDS TOTAL, thru 2 games, playing the likes of underwhelmers Rice and North Dakota. If they bring the same running game into Austin, this means Texas will be able to rush four, drop back 7, and Tech's gameplan is out the window. Also, it's been said by Mack this week that the coaches have been saving Colt's legs for conference play. That's been a big reason why he's not performed well I believe. They've also used DE/ LB Sergio Kindle sparingly, opening up opportunities for younger players (even 2 walk ons last week at Wyoming). People can knock the out of conference schedule all they want, but it certainly does give a program a couple of pre-season games to see what they have as a program depth wise. I hate it as a fan, but I love it as a fan too. Look for Texas to start opening it up this weekend, both defensively and offensively. At first I thought the line should be 14, but after looking into the game, and the injuries that Tech has, I'd bet this game all the way to Texas -20. This is Texas's only home game that's worth anything. It'll be pretty wild. I can't use that as a reason why Texas will win, much less cover, because I gave other people crap about them saying how Oklahoma State would win and cover because of the loud and large crowd. It certainly helps, but then you gotta play the game. And I think Texas plays well in a big way. I never even brought up what happened in Lubbock last year. That, you can bet, is on the minds of these players and coaches, no matter what they say to the media. BOL this weekend. Signed Longhorn homer.
It truly was a sight to see, wasn't it? That offense looked unstoppable in the first half. It's not like Texas had a bad defense or anything, Tech was just clicking on all cylinders that day.
This game in particular was a big wake up call to me in terms of how I bet. RLM was on TT, while my newbie noodle said "Texas is an UNDERDOG"? One year later, I bet very little based off my own opinion and 9 out of 10 of my plays is based on percentages / line movement / betting bad lines.
This game should be everyone's play of the week. Texas is going to dismantle this Tech team. Tech is banged up badly. Their best WR and Defensive End were both in walking boots at practice today. It's not gonna be pretty. The average score when these two teams meet during Brown's tenure in Austin? Texas 54 Tech 28. It'll be somewhere in the neighborhood of Texas 52, Tech 21 (at the most). BOL all this weekend.
