Texas Longhorns Football Team Preview 2019 - Odds and Predictions

The Longhorns got off to a rough start in 2018, losing 34-29 to Maryland in their season opener. Coach Tom Herman’s group would quickly recover, however, with six straight wins including a thrilling win over Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown. With a regular season record of 9-3, Texas lost to the Sooners in the Big 12 Championship game before capping the season off with a win over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

The Sugar Bowl victory marked the first major bowl win for the program since the 2008 Fiesta Bowl under Mack Brown, and their first double digit win season since 2009 when they lost in the BCS National Championship.

Key Returning Players (2018 Stats)

Lurking.. Stay Tuned.

# The OnLY? pic.twitter.com/GIqBEltV3I

— Caden Sterns (@CSterns_7) June 3, 2019

• QB Sam Ehlinger (Junior) – 3,292 Pass Yards | 25 Pass TD | 5 INT
• WR Collin Johnson (Senior) – 68 Receptions | 985 Rec Yards | 7 Rec TD
• C Zach Shackelford (Senior) – 10 Starts | 1st Team All-Big 12 (AP)
• S Caden Sterns (Sophomore) – 62 Total Tackles | 3.0 TFL | 4 INT

Texas will head into 2019 with sufficient experience at key positions, with quarterback Sam Ehlinger headlining that group. Ehlinger will be joined by running backs Keaontay Ingram and Daniel Young, while having a solid pair of throwing targets in Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay.

On the other side of the ball, the Longhorns will have plenty of experience in the trenches with a three man front of upperclassmen Ta’Quon Graham, Gerald Wilbon, and Malcolm Roach. The opposite can be said of the linebacking unit, as Jeffrey McCulloch is the only one in that group with significant starting experience. Safety Caden Sterns will look to lead what should be a young secondary with no starting spots etched in stone.

The special teams unit will also feature a pair of sophomores in punter Ryan Bujcevski, return man D’Shawn Jamison, and Red River Rivalry hero Cameron Dicker.

Key Departures

• CB Kris Boyd (Graduation)
• DE Charles Omenihu (Graduation)
• WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey (NFL Draft)
• MLB Gary Johnson (Graduation)

Although they only had two players drafted in Kris Boyd and Charles Omenihu, the Longhorns lost a ton of talent to graduation, particularly on the defensive side. Gone are d-linemen Chris Nelson and Breckyn Hager, along with leading tackler Gary Johnson and corner Davante Davis. Top receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey left school early to pursue an NFL career, and consequentially went undrafted.

Notable Recruits (Star Ratings and Rankings According to Rivals.com)

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— Jordan Whittington (@J_Whitt3) May 18, 2019

• S Tyler Owens – 4 Star | 6-2, 200lb | Plano East HS | Plano, TX
• WR Jake Smith – 4 Star | 6-0, 185lb | Notre Dame Prep | Scottsdale, AZ
• RB Jordan Whittington – 4 Star | 6-1, 204 lb | Cuero HS | Cuero, TX
• OT Tyler Johnson – 4 Star | 6-4, 280lb | Oak Ridge HS | Conroe, TX

Texas’ 2019 recruiting class took a big hit recently with the sudden transfer of their lone 5 star recruit, Bru McCoy, who opted to stay in-state and attend USC. The Longhorns will hope that loss can be offset by receiver recruits Jake Smith and Marcus Washington. Texas also managed to lock down a trio of highly rated defensive backs in Tyler Owens, Chris Adimora, and Kenyatta Watson.

This class has been a departure from years past, as six of their top ten prospects were recruited from out-of-state, with signees from Arizona, Missouri, California, and Georgia.

2019 Schedule

If the Longhorns hope to build on 2018, they will have to do so with a very challenging schedule which includes a visit from LSU in DKR Memorial Stadium. The Red River Rivalry will be a tough battle as always, while tough road tests at West Virginia and TCU will also await Texas.

Should coach Herman and Co. make it through the first ten games unscathed, the two week stretch of road trips to Iowa State and Baylor could also be very dangerous. One key benefit of such a tough schedule is that it could help earn them brownie points from the selection committee should they suffer just one loss.

Where to Bet on Win Totals and Playoff Odds in New Jersey

New Jersey residents can log on to 888Sport to wager on Texas’ College Football Playoff and Big 12 Championship odds, as well as their win total. With an over/under of 9.5 wins and a daunting schedule, bettors will have some tough decisions to make.

Big 12 Conference Winner

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Number of Games Won – Excluding Bowl Games & Play Offs

Regular season only. Conference championship games do not count.

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