Thank you Doc! I like the CMU pick today!
You know Texas...They can win by 60 if they want to...I am not sure they care...The line opened around Texas -32.5 and its up to Texas -35.5...They have no real lookahead with hapless ULM on deck...and then Miss St...Jeff Traylor is a good coach at UTSA, but this is not one of his better teams...If I recall Jeff was formerly on the Texas staff, under Mack Brown or Strong, I can't recall...In 2022 Texas beat UTSA at home 41 to 20 covering the 12 pt chalk...I recall that game being tight for 3 quarters, until Texas pulled away in the 4th, in Ewers first year.
Maybe a first half play would be reasonable, but that's 21 I believe, and that clock seems to run fast in that first half. One 3 and out, and it puts 21 at risk...
Like Georgia at Kentucky today, Texas can cover if it wants to...but, what incentive does it have to do so, with the meat of the schedule commencing on October 12, 2024...and with the 12 team playoff instead of just 4, what's the incentive to add a TD...in chump time...and cover...
I see Ewers playing for the first half, then Arch Manning takes over...then the 3rd teamer by the end of the 3rd and a walk on by the end of the 4th...Since Manning is almost as good as Ewers, I see Texas continue to score...but, by the end of the 3rd, Sark will empty his bench and walk ons will be playing.
I don't really see a let down spot here, but I do see Texas playing this like a quasi scrimmage...I don't recall there being any bad blood between Sark and Traylor...
Week 3 is tough...I have gone with 4 picks where I see an inherent advantage in coaching, talent and motivation...It is also potentially redemption Saturday for Auburn, Michigan and N Dame. But, you just never know...
As you can see, I will not be on Texas this week...I think there is a possibility that they will cover, but with the emotional win at the Big House last week, no real incentive to run up the score, no lookahead, and the possibility that Sark will empty his bench early in the 2nd half, with UTSA fighting hard to put 7 to 14 points on the board, I think I will pass...GL on what you decide to do...GL on your other picks...
Oh, and the Under 55.5, may be a good play...Maybe a Texas 42 UTSA 10 or related would get you there...GL
Quote Originally Posted by DrStrangelove:
Nice win on the Cats. Have you got any feel for Texas covering that big number? It feels like one of those "going through the motions" games where Texas starts shutting things down in the 4th quarter. I'm leaning under 55.5