Texas Tech-Oklahoma State Highlight Vegas Big 12 Predictions Week 5
Saturday Blitz Vegas Big 12 Predictions Week 5
Texas Longhorns at Kansas Jayhawks
Line: Texas by 13.5
This is a battle between two desperate teams. Charlie Strong’s Longhorns look like they could be in some trouble after he dismissed the ninth player on the team this past week, and the offense has looked awful. Losing David Ash looks like it might take a heavy toll. For Texas to turn things around and at least make a bowl game, it is absolutely crucial that they win on Saturday on the road. Strong has got to find an offense somewhere, and the defense still isn’t great. Tyrone Swoopes has been efficient at quarterback and has now set the impossible expectation of the Longhorns making the playoffs, but he needs to make more big plays instead of just managing the offense. That’s going to be key to a Longhorns victory.
The Jayhawks, meanwhile, need to stick to their rushing game to beat the Longhorns this year. Not because it’s a great rushing attack, but because it’s about the only thing they have going for them. Kansas has what looks like a terrible team, including on defense, and the Longhorns, even with the suspensions and rebuilding process, simply have way more talent everywhere on the field. To counteract that, Charlie Weis needs to shorten the game and keep Montell Cozart from turning the ball over. If he can do those two things, and Kansas can get a few breaks, they could pull off the upset at home.
Prediction
Texas will unfortunately struggle again against a bad Kansas team as they still try to get into a rhythm with Strong. There is just too much turmoil in the program for it to put together a complete game right now, but luckily, Kansas will be bad enough for them to get the win. Texas will pull out an ugly victory.
Texas: 24 Kansas: 13