Texas Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2017
The Texas Tech Red Raiders serve as a final home game on the conference schedule for the Texas Longhorns. By this point, the Longhorns could be considering year one under Tom Herman a success or a failure. Depending on their record, they could be playing for a Big 12 title here, possibly unseating Oklahoma’s hopes for a playoff berth.
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The Red Raiders lose their prolific quarterback in Patrick Mahomes, now a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. To make matters worse, wide receiver Jonathan Giles has transferred to the LSU Tigers after catching 69 passes for 1,158 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. He’ll sit out the 2017 season.
Texas Tech returns six starters on offense and five on defense but by the end of November, they’ll have a number of new faces producing for them. The offense ranked first in the FBS in passing yards per game (463.0) and total yards per game (564.5), though their 5-7 record didn’t show much of that.
Their defense finished last in the FBS in points allowed (43.5 points per game) and total yards allowed per game (554.3 yards per game). Expect to see a lot of freshman and transfers get playing time before its all said and done.
The Texas Longhorns should finish up their Big 12 schedule with a victory here. The Red Raiders aren’t bad, but their defense still has work to do to catch up to the rest of the conference.
Final: Texas Tech 21, Texas 42 (10-2, 8-1 Big 12)
End of regular season: 10-2 (8-1 Big 12)
At the end of last season, former head coach Charlie Strong voiced a strong opinion, stating whoever coached the 2017 team would win 10 games. I’m a believer that Strong is correct here.
Last years Longhorns weren’t up to par with the standards of the powers that be had in place, but 2017 should tell a different story. They only lost two games last season by more than two possessions.
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Granted, their lost to the Kansas Jayhawks was definitely a nail in the coffin, but still, the Longhorns are still a talented squad entering this season. Hopefully, their 5-7 record last season will be their last time going under .500 for awhile.
Tom Herman hasn’t had a losing season yet as a head coach. This season could be his best yet on a bigger national stage. Call me all in on Herman as the savior of Texas Longhorns football.