2018 Football Preview – Big 12 – Longhorns
Looking for 2018 Texas Longhorns predictions? The Longhorns used to having a long-proud and prestigious football program, has been in the wilderness of late. Under second-year head coach Tom Herman, however, there is hope. The ‘Horns took a step forward in 2017, but UT’s spirited fanbase demand quicker progress. How the offense progresses under Herman this season will be critical to Texas working itself back up the pecking order in the Big 12 Conference.
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2018-19 College Football Preview – Texas Longhorns
Head Coach: Tom Herman
2017 Record: 7-6
Texas Longhorns Odds to win the 2018 FBS Championship: +2000
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The Longhorns lost five of its six games last season by 10 points or less. A change in those fortunes this season could make a huge difference in Texas’s record this time around.
2018 Texas Longhorns Predictions: Team Strengths
‘D’ Up: Even with graduations and players moving on to the pros, defensive co-ordinator Paul Orlando has a feared unit that should still set the tone in Austin. Texas probably has the best defensive line, linebackers and defensive backs in the Big 12.
Even losing superstars like DL Poona Ford, LB Malik Jefferson and DB DeShon Elliott, Orlando and his staff has built the depth for Texas to shine. The defense is led by former junior college transfer LB Gary Johnson, and the ‘Horns are anticipating freshman DBs Caden Sterns, B.J. Foster and Anthony Cook to make an immediate impact.
The offense needs to come along, but the defense should keep Texas in games until the other side of the ball is ready to follow suit.
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Rising Star: Sophomore field general Sam Ehlinger is ready to take a major step forward in 2018. He built fourth-quarter leads against top opponents like Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and USC, so he has the capability to get the job done.
Yet, he must work to avoid turnovers at inopportune times. With more efficient play, Ehlinger has the talent to possibly even be a Heisman Trophy contender this year.
With wide receivers Collin Johnson and Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Texas’s QB has the dynamic talent on the outside to put up some nice stats. Despite the effective duo, Texas does need more depth in the WR corps.
Notre Dame managed to win 10 games without him last season. With him in the back field next to one of their talented QBs? Well, lets just say the options are endless.
2018 Texas Longhorns Predictions: Team Weaknesses
Bev-‘O’s Line needs more Beef!: Texas’s attack often hit the rocks in 2017 because of shoddy offensive line play. The team hopes that grad transfer Calvin Anderson from Rice makes a tangible impact.
The ‘Horns also brought in Herb Hand, a well-regarded offensive line coach from Auburn. Texas also hopes incumbents Patrick Vahe and Zach Shackelford will help shore up the position group.
Texas features a talented group of running backs (the brightest stars being Daniel Young, grad transfer Tre Watson and true freshman stud Keanontay Ingram) but their potential will be dulled if the O-line cannot hold up its end of the bargain.
The return of injured TE Andrew Beck should affect the run blocking, and Beck can snag a couple of balls.
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Bountiful recruiting classes that Herman has brought in are stocking the cupboards for Texas to start making a run at conference rival Oklahoma.
Texas definitely needs to improve on offense, but if the O-line can allow stars like Ehrlinger, Young, Ingram and Johnson to shine, the corresponding upgrades should mean at least a two-win improvement on last year for the Longhorns.
They maybe aren’t just ready to properly challenge OU, but under Herman they are getting closer.
Texas Longhorns Prediction: 9-3
Texas figures to be in more close games once again.
There are tough customers like Southern Cal, TCU, and West Virginia on the slate, but at least they visit Austin this time around.
If Texas’s underclassman talent on defense can fill in the gaps of the departed impact players to fight regression on that side of the ball, while the offense improves, the Longhorns should turn at least a few of those narrowly-lost games in 2017 into ‘W’s.
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Provided O-line guru Herb Hand is worth being poached from Auburn, Ehrlinger should have a little more time to work his magic and, as a result, you may have Oklahoma’s closest competition in the run-and-gun Big 12 Conference.
2018 Texas Longhorns Football Schedule
- 9/1/18 12:00 PM ET @MD
- 9/8/18 8:00 PM ET TLSA
- 9/15/18 8:00 PM ET USC
- 9/22/18 TBD TCU
- 9/29/18 TBD @KSU
- 10/6/18 TBD @OKLA
- 10/13/18 TBD BAY
- 10/27/18 TBD @OKST
- 11/3/18 TBD WVU
- 11/10/18 TBD @TTU
- 11/17/18 8:00 PM ET ISU
- 11/23/18 12:00 PM ET @KU
What do you think about our 2018 Texas Longhorns predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2018!
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