College Football Predictions – Texas Longhorns 2020 College Football Preview
August 14, 2020
2019 Recap
Record – 8-5
ATS – 7-6
The Longhorns had high hopes for the season and planned on making a repeat appearance in the Big 12 Championship Game. In the first half of the season they lost of pair of games by seven points to teams that BOTH made the College Football Playoff (LSU, Oklahoma), and then they sputtered a bit down the stretch. They pounded Utah in the Alamo Bowl (W 38-10) to finish the year on a high note.
Let’s dig in and find out if the Longhorns have what it takes to get to the conference title game in 2020.
2020 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
Big 12 – #3
Texas Longhorns 2020 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Longhorns were deadly on offense a season ago (#2 Big 12 scoring offense, #3 total offense) and head into this season with many of the same excellent pieces. QB Sam Ehlinger is a MEGALOCKS favorite and a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender heading into his senior campaign. Ehlinger threw for over 3,600 yards and 32 TDs LY whilst rushing for 663 yards and 7 scores in 2019. Texas looks stacked at RB with the return of their top-two rushers (Keaontay Ingram, Roschon Johnson) and who knows what could be in store if highly-regarded freshman Bijan Robinson gets to show us what he can do. There will be some retooling at WR with the departure of their top-two wideouts including star Devin Duvernay (NFL – Ravens) who caught 106 (!) balls LY (#3 FBS). The good news is that there is plenty of raw talent remaining at WR so we expect the THROW GAME to continue to be effective. Three starters return to the offensive line including star LT Samuel Cosmi.
This is clearly one of the better offenses in the Big 12.
DEFENSE
The Longhorns struggled on defense last season (#7 Big 12 scoring D, #8 total D) and decided to move in a new direction this year with the addition of Chris Ash as DC, and a change in defensive alignment. There are 9 (!) returning starters to work with so hopefully the experience on hand will pay dividends. The run defense was decent LY (#3 Big 12 rushing D) and has been the strength of the stop unit under Tom Herman (#3, #2, #2). Things look promising in that regard once again with many talented bodies up front including star DE/LB Joseph Ossai who led the team in tackles AND sacks a season ago. The secondary is experienced but they need to do a better job vs the pass as they were #8 in the conference in pass efficiency defense LY whilst allowing a Big 12 worst 28 TD passes. Hopefully, they won’t be smoked by the injury bug again. They really need to improve their ability to achieve PENETRATION as they were mid-pack in the Big 12 in TFL/game and only booked 27 sacks which was their worst total in a long time.
They were young and oft-injured a season ago so we look for them to improve in most statistical categories.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Dicker the Kicker is coming off a solid year (14/18 FG, 56/57 XP) and P Ryan Bujcevski is back as well (Texas #46 FBS net punting LY). KR D’Shawn Jamison made a HOUSE CALL a season ago and the Longhorns were top-50 in the FBS in both PR and KR in 2019.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – They get a great game to open and work out the cobwebs (UTEP) and should be able to head into their yuuuuge game with Oklahoma with a mark of 3-0. They only have four road games and the toughest is a trip to Stillwater on October 31st. Expect the date with Iowa St on November 28th to be an important piece of the Big 12 puzzle.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at Kansas (November 21st)
Kansas has covered the last four in the series and note that the Jayhawks SHOCKED the WORLD with a 24-21 win in Lawrence back in 2016. In 2018, the Longhorns escaped on the road with a 24-17 win. Texas was life and death to beat Kansas LY in Austin (W 50-48). Iowa St is on deck.
Season Win Total
Waiting for Vegas/Offshore number.
MEGALOCKS says:
Waiting for Vegas/Offshore number.
A fair line might be in the vicinity of Over 8.5 +100, Under 8.5 -120.
MEGAmazing Tidbit
It’s hard to believe, but the Longhorns have only won the Big 12 twice this century (2005, 2009).
Texas has made the most appearances in Cotton Bowl history (22) (!). Texas A&M is next with 13.
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
We can’t lie. We like the look of this team and think they’re more than capable of getting through the regular season relatively unscathed and playing for a Big 12 Championship. They don’t have a significant weakness and you know that Tom Herman can COACH EM UP. There’s upside with this team if the defense can rebound off a shaky 2019. Longshot SURPRISE PACKAGE to win all the marbles.
#HookEm !
Want more Longhorns football ?
WEBSITE
http://texassports.com/?path=football
FORUM
http://www.hornsports.com/forums/forum/14-the-burnt-orange-board/
https://texas.forums.rivals.com/forums/longhorn-sports.24/
http://www.hornfans.com/forums/football/
http://insidetexas.com/forums/forums/it-members-only.2/
NEWS
http://www.burntorangenation.com/
http://www.hookem.com/bevo-beat/
https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/college-sports/texas-longhorns
https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/251/texas-longhorns
Hashtags – #HookEm, #ThisIsTexas
Accounts to follow