Texas Longhorns

There are some big “must watch” college games this Saturday and that’s what I want to cover. These are really tough to call, but here are my two cents. I actually like the Maryland and Pittsburgh picks more than the high-profile matchups below.

#8 OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS @ #1 TEXAS LONGHORNS -12.5

I was a bit surprised the line was this high. I love Texas to win this one. Oklahoma St. is playing at a high level. Both teams are 7-0 and averaging more than 45 PPG. Both teams are perfect against the spread this year. Texas has the edge at QB with Colt McCoy who is the frontrunner to win the Hiesman and Texas has the better defense. With the home field, I see them winning this one, but will they run away with the game just like the Missouri game? That’s difficult to say. I don’t like the high spread for a game that should be an offensive showdown. This one is too close to call with the spread. I love Texas to win outright, but I don’t like giving up 12.5 in what should be a close game. I’m not indicating to take the points by the prediction as I can also see a Texas beat down just like the Missouri game. It’s just your best bet to avoid this spread or tease it to Texas -5.5 with another game.

Prediction — Texas 38 – Oklahoma State 28

#9 GEORGIA BULLDOGS @ #11 LSU TIGERS -1.5

I like the Bulldogs in this one. They have a much better QB in Matthew Staffard than LSU and have more playmakers with WRs JR Green and Mohamed Massaquoi and RB Knowshon Moreno (6.0 YPC, 11 TDs). Both teams are averaging …

MISSOURI TIGERS @ TEXAS LONGHORNS -5.5

The most intriguing game on the college football schedule for week 8 has to be he No. 12 Missouri Tigers vs. No. 1 Texas Longhorns. Both teams are averaging more than 45 PPG. That’s ridiculous! We both know that both teams are offensive juggernauts. Missouri is averaging over 550 yards of offense a game and Texas is averaging 462 yards. Texas has the slightly better defense. Texas has given up an average of only 15.3 PPG while Missouri’s average is 21.3 PPG. What’s more impressive with Texas is their play against the run. On the ground, Texas is only allowing 1.9 yards per attempt.

So far Texas has been playing brilliant football at home where they’ve only given up an average of 10 points and 270 yards a game while scoring an average of 52 PPG, compared to Missouri’s 17 points and 352 yards allowed on the road to Nebraska. But of course Texas should roll over teams like Arkansas, Rice, and Florida Atlantic at home.

Last week the Tigers lost to the Oklahoma State Cowboys at home 28-23 and they were a 2 touchdown favorite. Texas is coming off a big emotional win in the Red River Rivalry where they topped the Oklahoma Sooners 45-35 (as a 7-point underdog) in what was one of the best college games of the year. The key to Missouri’s loss last week was Chase Daniel’s 3 INTs. He threw for 390 yards, but you just can’t turnover the ball like that. In his previous 5 games, Chase threw 15 TDs and only 1 INT. Chase is also completing over 75% of his passes. Chase is coming into this game with 2,055 yards, 16 TDs, 4 INTs. Colt …