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Texas Longhorns 2015 NCAA Football Gambling Odds & Predictions

2015-16 Football Previews – (Big 12) – Longhorns

The Texas sized rebuild continues under authoritarian second-year head coach Charlie Strong. He comes from a strong pedigree after building a winner at Louisville, but Strong must continue to see his changes pay dividends to assuage an impatient fanbase (and donor field) in Austin.

NCAA Football Gambling Lines

Texas

Big 12 Conference 2015-16 College Football Preview – Texas Longhorns
Head Coach: Charlie Strong
2014 Record: 6-7
BCS Odds: +7500
Texas Odds to win the 2015-16 Big 12 Championship: +900

Texas is not just a proud football program but a proud school, and thanks to the recruiting hotbed in the state, the Longhorns always have intriguing talent. Strong has to show he can put it all together and make tangible progress in 2015.

The Longhorns are making a change from a pro-style offense to a spread attack, which should better utilize the dual-threat talents of QBs Tyrone Swoopes and redshirt frosh Jerrod Heard.

Strong spent his first year at the helm turning over his roster and coaching staff, so Texas’s athletic department needs to show some patience with this transformation. Still, with so much success in the last decade it’s clear that Texas boosters and ‘Horns fans don’t enjoy seasons with a record under .500.

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What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Longhorns’ roster this  year?

Team Strengths:

Although RB Johnathan Gray led the ‘Horns last season with only 637 yards on the ground, the RBs will improve on those numbers if the offensive line can congeal. It’s a talented group, returning not only Gray but redshirt freshman Duke Catalon and powerful sophomore D’Onta Foreman. One of these backs should push close to 1,000 yards this season.

Texas features a marvelous defensive line. They have the ability to get to the opposing QB and thwart an opponents’ running game thanks to DTs Hassan Ridgeway and Desmond Jackson. Defensive end Naashon Hughes is also a good player and junior Bryce Cottrell is a great rotation guy to keep the starters fresh.

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Linebacker and the defensive backfield features plenty of talent, though most of them are youngsters. After an injury to DB Sheroid Evans, freshman Holton Hill has a chance to shine. Sophomore Jason Hall is a boomer at safety.

Team Weaknesses:

The guys in burnt orange need far better play from the offensive line. Talented RBs couldn’t be maximized last season due to shoddy blocking. The interior of the line should return, but senior OT Marcus Hutchins may get benched by freshman Connor Williams. Look out for Euless, TX native Patrick Vahe, a hyped recruit that could start before long.

There also aren’t many playmakers at wideout. The leading returning pass catcher is senior Marcus Johnson, who had just 27 receptions for 313 yards and one measly score. Someone has to make their presence felt, maybe it’ll be freshman John Burt, a recruit that Texas sniped from the Sunshine State.

Texas’s special teams units were terrible last season, and the coaching staff for that unit was canned in the off-season. Texas has some speedsters that could make a difference in the return game (Daje Johnson and Jacorey Warrick specifically) but they have to go out and do it.

Last, and most fundamentally, the ‘Horns need steady play under center. Swoopes, Heard or freshman Kai Locksley must carry the mail in 2015.

2015-16 Texas Longhorns Prediction: 7-6

Strong surely isn’t aiming for mediocrity, but with some strong teams above them and the areas needing improvement being plenty, it might be another year of seasoning until Texas is a serious Big 12 contender again. It doesn’t help that the Longhorns start their non-conference slate by travelling to South Bend to take on Notre Dame.

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They will be back in the discussion before long, as Texas has loads of young talent and Strong will continue to haul in impressive recruiting classes to a program that still has marquee name recognition in the Lone Star State.

2015 Longhorns Schedule (All times EST)

9/5/15 7:30 PM @ND
9/12/15 8:00 PM RICE
9/19/15 7:30 PM CAL
9/26/15 TBD OK. ST.
10/3/15 TBD @TCU
10/10/15 TBD OU (in Cotton Bowl, Dallas, TX)
10/24/15 TBD KSU
10/31/15 TBD @IA. ST.
11/7/15 TBD KANS
11/14/15 TBD @WVU
11/26/15 TBD TX. TECH
12/5/15 TBD @BAYLOR

Check out our Updated College Football Odds.
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By James Hayes

James has been naming every player on the EA Sports video game rosters for half a decade now, he’s finally putting his knowledge to better use writing for us here at CappersPicks.com. Your comments are welcome below…Give Us Your Take!