Florida Atlantic v. Texas Spread, Predictions, & Betting Odds
August 26, 2008
Last year the Longhorns went into the first game of their season with high expectations of rolling over a weaker Sun Belt Conference opponent. This was supposed to propel them on to a double digit win season, but the team got off a poor start before picking up their tenth win in the Holiday Bowl to finish off 10-3.
This year’s team is hoping to avoid such a rough start, so expect the 11th-ranked Longhorns to come out firing on all cylinders as they get their season kicked off against Florida Atlantic on Saturday.
The oddsmakers at JustBet have Texas listed as a 24 point favorite for the game. If you want to take a look at all of the college football odds this week, you might find a few worth betting on.
Last year Texas had high standards, but those expectations weren’t met when the then no. 4 Texas Longhorns crept passed Arkansas State 21-13, which started a recurring pattern for Mack Brown’s squad. In their second game, Texas trailed Texas Christian 10-0 at the half before they put together a strong second half to come from behind and take the win. The following week it was a tight victory over Central Florida, 35-32, but the problems continued in Big 12 play as the Longhorns dropped their first two conference games for the first time since 1956.
The team didn’t do what they needed to do to take care of business, and for the following five weeks they couldn’t get out of their slump. This year’s team is striving to be more consistent with hard work and full on effort from the beginning.
Sure, Texas went 6-1 to close out the season, but they never looked like the national championship contenders that they were supposed to be, barely beating Nebraska and Oklahoma State before blowing out Arizona State in their bowl game.
Texas quarterback Colt McCoy is ready to redeem himself after struggling as a sophomore. He threw 29 touchdowns and seven picks as a freshman, but last year threw 18 interceptions to go with 22 touchdowns. This year he will be under even more pressure to carry the load with running back Jamaal Charles jetting off to the NFL. McCoy’s goals are to take this team to the next level. He’s had a pair of good seasons, but he dreams of taking Texas to greatness, and that can only mean competing for a national title.
Defensively, Texas brought in Will Muschamp from Auburn to help boost the defense. Muschamp helped LSU win a national title in 2003 before moving up to the NFL and joining the Dolphins staff. Early indications are the team has a new tenacity, and they will be tougher to score on than last year’s porous defense.
That defense better be improved, since Florida Atlantic ranked second last year in the Sun Belt with 31.2 ppg and 417.1 ypg from scrimmage. The Owls were 8-5, winning not only their bowl game against Memphis but also the conference title. That bowl game has given this team confidence that they can compete with the big boys, especially with Rusty Smith at quarterback. Smith had 3,688 passing yards and 32 touchdowns a year go.
Part of Schnellenberger’s confidence stems from having Rusty Smith at quarterback. Smith ranked 12th in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 3,688 passing yards and tied for eighth with 32 touchdowns in 2007.
Related News
- 2007 New Orleans Bowl
- College Football Betting Spread Offense
- Week13 College Football Predictions
- 2007 ACC Football Odds
- 2007 ACC Atlantic Football Predictions
- Week6 College Football Predictions
- Week11 College Football Predictions
- Week4 College Football Predictions
- Week3 College Football Lines
- Week9 College Football Predictions
Latest Headlines
- Free NBA Pick for January 9, 2009
- Free NBA Pick for January 4, 2009
- Free College Basketball Pick for January 3, 2009
- Free NCAA Basketball Pick for January 2, 2009
- Free NCAA Basketball Pick for December 31, 2008
- Free NBA Pick for December 30, 2008
- Free NBA Pick for December 29, 2008
- Free NBA Pick for December 27, 2008
- Free NBA Pick for December 26, 2008
- Hornets/Magic High Noon Heavy Hitter for December 25, 2008