2011-2012 Football Previews – Big 12 – Texas Longhorns
How could a team fall so far so fast? Texas was in the BCS Championship Game in 2009, but just one year later they finished 5-7 in 2010. Last year marked the first time since 1997 that the Longhorns missed out on a bowl berth.
Head Coach: Mack Brown
2010 Record: 5-7
Texas Gambling Odds from Sportsbook.com to win BCS: +3,000
UT Team Page – Players Stats – Roster – 2011 Schedule –>
Texas was just 3-9 ATS in 2010. Can the Longhorns get back to their winning ways?
The fact that a team with as much talent as Texas finished 5-7 in 2010 is extremely perplexing. The Longhorns had one of the best defenses in the country, but turnovers and silly mistakes by their offense cost them a lot of games.
As they always seem to do, Texas brought in a terrific recruiting class this year.
I have to expect a better season from the Longhorns from Austin, Texas.
Team Strengths:
The defensive tackles at Texas are absolutely capable of dominating the game. Kheeston Randall and Alex Okafor are big bodies that clog the running lanes very well. Since they will command so much attention, don’t be surprised to see guys like Jackson Jeffcoat and others on the outside racking up sacks.
As good as the defensive line is the linebackers might be even better. Keenan Robinson is a sure-tackler that pursues the football as well as anyone.
Emmanuel Acho is a senior leader of this defense, and I fully expect him to step up and have a huge season. The linebackers provide a nice mixture of superior skills and leadership for the defense.
The wide receivers were pretty good last year, and they should be even better this season. Jaxon Shipley, the younger brother of Jordan Shipley, is a highly touted freshman.
Sophomore Mike Davis has the skills to be one of the best receivers in the Big 12.
Team Weaknesses:
The single biggest weakness of this Texas football team is clearly the offensive line. Would you believe that despite all the success that the Longhorns have had over the last few years they haven’t had a single offensive lineman drafted into the NFL since 2008? This offensive line is shaky against the blitz and even worse in run blocking. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Quite simply, the Longhorns need to build an identity on offense. Garrett Gilbert was a great high school quarterback and if he is put in the right spot he should be successful. Last year it seemed Texas really had no idea what it wanted to do on offense.
The defense as a whole is very good, but the secondary is a little weaker than the average Texas secondary. The cornerbacks have been beaten deep too many times, and the secondary in general sometimes cheats up too much to defend the run.
2011-2012 Texas Football Prediction: 9-4
Texas doesn’t have a difficult non-conference schedule, and they’ll certainly be looking to get some revenge against UCLA for the embarrassing performance last year.
Circle October 8 on your calendar, as that is when the Longhorns will play Oklahoma in Dallas.
While most people realize that Missouri and Texas A&M on the road will be very difficult games, don’t overlook that trip to Baylor on October 22. If Texas is going to win nine or ten games this year, they will definitely need freshman running back Malcolm Brown to make a big impact right away. I expect Texas to improve quite a bit from last year.
The Longhorns defense, which should be one of the best in the nation, should carry them to quite a few wins.
2011 UT Football Schedule
09/03 — Rice
09/10 — Brigham Young
09/17 — at UCLA
10/01 — at Iowa State
10/08 — Oklahoma (at The Cotton Bowl)
10/15 — Oklahoma State
10/22 — at Baylor
10/29 — Kansas
11/05 — Texas Tech
11/12 — at Missouri
11/19 — Kansas State
11/24 — at Texas A&M
2 replies on “2011 Texas Longhorns Gambling Odds | Predictions”
Does Texas win more or less than 7 games in 2011?
9 wins this year gang. Texas will bring yet another GREAT D to the Big 12. Don’t think many can contend w/ them.