Texas Longhorns Betting – 2011 Texas Longhorns College Football Preview
One of the more fascinating stories in college football this season, which will make your next sports bet even more of a conversation piece with your friends, is the drama surrounding the Texas Longhorns. Just how will this proud program rebound from a bowl-less season, a sub-.500 campaign that left the Lone Star State in a state of utter disbelief?
Even the most football-ignorant MLB baseball betting gurus know that last year was an historic letdown, an immense disappointment, in Austin, Texas. The year 2010 will go down in the Texas Longhorn lore as a miserable season that couldn’t end soon enough. For the first time since 1997, the Longhorns were under .500 and failed to finish in the Top 25. Just a year removed from competing in the BCS National Championship Game, and on the heels of nine straight double-digit win seasons in a row, the 2010 campaign was a surprise to all. The quarterback play of Garrett Gilbert was a thorn in the side of the Texas community all season long. In his first year as a starter, Gilbert threw 17 interceptions, compared to only 10 touchdown passes. In 2011, Gilbert is in the midst of a three-way competition for the starting job. None of the three have separated themselves, although you have to think Gilbert has the upper hand. Connor Wood and Case McCoy have August camp in which to make an impression. Mike Davis may very well be poised for a breakout season at receiver. Marquise Goodwin is a speedster that makes plays. If the Longhorns can get a consistent running game going, they certainly have options on the outside. Seven offensive starters are back this season. The Longhorns will have new co-offensive coordinators to guide them in 2011. Bryan Harsin, who had coached at Boise State for ten years, will join former Texas quarterback Major Applewhite in coaching duties. In a sports betting context, the innovative Harsin could make a huge difference for the Longhorns.
The defense, which was shredded against both Kansas State and Oklahoma State last season, also returns seven starters. The Longhorns certainly have the talent to play with anyone in the country. Linebackers Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho are as good as you’ll find in college football. Blake Gideon, now a senior, will be looking to make plays in the secondary. With defensive coordinator Will Muschamp gone to Florida, Manny Diaz take the reigns of a Texas defense who wants desperately to get back to playing at an elite level. An aggressive style is sure to follow, but can Texas get back to greatness? The schedule should provide some good barometer points. A week two home game with upstart BYU may be a good indicator as to Texas’ stature in 2011. The Longhorns travel to UCLA in week three with revenge on their minds. Texas was embarrassed by a bad Bruin team last year in Austin. Back-to-back games against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in mid-October will be the key. Road games against Missouri and Texas A&M in November will be difficult.
