BEN BURNS
10* Personal Favorite – TEXAS -15
Pick: @ -15 -110 Texas
I’m playing on TEXAS (vs Rice) as my 10* Personal Favorite.
After Texas got hammered 38-3 by Notre Dame on Saturday, I think we are seeing a much more favorable line this week against Rice than we would have if Texas had kept that one close. I believe it’s a good time to jump on the Longhorns because they are not wasting any time in making changes to improve.
Head coach Charlie Strong demoted his defensive coordinators early this week and promoted his receivers coach to step up and make the play calls on D. I think we’ll see a different result this week against Rice as a result, which is obviously a team that isn’t on Notre Dame’s talent level.
I think this Longhorns offense will also see some success against an Owls defense that is in a complete rebuilding year. The defensive line received a total personnel overhaul and I think Texas should be able to control the pace of this game at will at the line of scrimmage. The Rice starting secondary is also completely new and I expect to see Texas bust out of its offensive funk that dates back to last season. I also like that the Horns have covered the spread in five of the last six meetings.
I’m playing on TEXAS as my 10* Personal Favorite Saturday.