Texas football needs to get back on track vs. Rice in Week 3

Texas football looks to rebound against the Rice Owls. Can the Longhorns get back on track in Week 3 and gain momentum before Big 12 play?

Texas was in the game of the week last Saturday. Against LSU, they were in a shootout, but fell by a score of 45-38 at home. It was a tough to lose in such a big opportunity, but for Tom Herman and the Longhorns, moving on is of paramount importance.

Quarterback Same Ehlinger has been as good as the Longhorn faithful could ask for. Through this young season, he’s completed 69.4 percent of his passes, and compiled 677 yards and eight touchdowns. He’s also yet to throw an interception.

The Owls have a lot of room to grow. They’ve started 0-2 with losses to Army and Wake Forest. The offense absolutely must improve for Rice to turn things around. In those two games, they averaged only 282 yards per game.

Date: Saturday, Sept. 14
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Houston, Texas
Venue: NRG Stadium
TV: CBS Sports Network
Live Stream: CBS Sports Network or FuboTV

Keys to Victory

For the Longhorns to win, they simply need to play their game. The Longhorns have the far superior talent, and barring serious injuries or an inordinate amount of turnovers, they should come away with a victory. Ehlinger hasn’t thrown a pick yet, and that may continue in this one.

As far as an Owl victory, it’s certainly an uphill battle. They’ll need Harvard transfer Tom Stewart to keep getting better. He’s completed 63.3 percent of his throws this year, but only 185 yards. An increased passing threat would do wonders for the Rice offense.

Betting Odds

Odds courtesy of Bovada

Spread: Texas -32
Over/Under: 56

Prediction

The Longhorns will take out some frustration out on Rice. They were so close to beating sixth-ranked LSU, and that game undoubtedly lingered in the minds of Texas. The Owls are likely the unfortunate recipient of a beatdown on Saturday.

Final Score: Texas 56, Rice 13