Rice Owls at Texas Longhorns
Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas
Saturday, September 3, 2011, 8:00 pm Eastern, TV: Longhorn Network
Opening Line: Texas -20
Current Line: Texas -24 1/2
Opening Total: 55
Current Total: 55 1/2
Opening Money Line: Texas -2500 / Rice +1500
Current Money Line: Texas -2200 / Rice +1300
After a highly disappointing 5-7 season last year Texas looks to rebound in 2011. There were even some Longhorn fans that were calling for Mack Brown to be fired, despite the fact that Texas played for the national title the season before. They open the season against former Southwest conference foe Rice. Rice was 4-8 last season under coach David Bailiff. The game will be broadcast on the new Longhorn network, UT’s own network. Texas has dominated the series with a 70-21-1 record, including 39 of the last 40. Texas is 41-8 in Austin against Rice.
Rice returns 17 starters on offense and defense. Rice averaged 375 yards and 29 points a game last season. Sophomore Taylor McHargue beat out senior Nick Fanuzzi for the starting quarterback job. Both saw significant action last year but Fanuzzi was the starter for most of the year. Fanuzzi completed 62.7% of his passes for 1,681 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. He had 65 carries for a total of 13 yards. McHargue was 33 for 58 for 491 yards, 6 touchdowns and an interception last year. McHargue also had 46 carries for 151 yards, and a touchdown last year. McHargue is much more mobile and was named the starter because the offensive line isn’t very good and he is more capable of escaping pressure than Fanuzzi. Junior running back Sam McGuffie returns after he had 197 carries, 883 yards, and 6 touchdowns last season. He also had 39 catches, 384 yards, and 3 touchdowns last year. Sophomore Jeremy Eddington had 59 carries, 365 yards, and 10 touchdowns last year. Senior Tyler Smith had 70 carries, 279 yards, and a touchdown along with 11 catches. Last season 9 Rice receivers had at least 10 catches, and no one had more than 39. Junior Luke Wilson, Vance McDonald (8 touchdown catches to lead the team), sophomore Donte Moore, senior Randy Kitchens, sophomore Klein Kubiak, and the two running backs will all get significant catches.
Rice struggled on defense last year giving up 449 yards and 39 points a game. The defense looks to improve led by defensive tackles John Gloffre and Michael Smith, RE Scott Solomon who missed all of 2010, linebacker Justin Allen, CB Phillip Gaines, and FS Xavier Webb.
Texas had a mediocre offense last season as Garrett Gilbert took over at quarterback for Colt McCoy. Texas averaged 383 yards and 24 points a game. The big problem for the Longhorns was turnovers. They turned the ball over 30 times last year, including 17 interceptions by Gilbert. Gilbert struggled so badly last season that Brown opened the quarterback position to a competition. Gilbert was named the starter but he will be on a short leash. Case McCoy (Colt’s little brother) is the backup if Gilbert falters again. Gilbert completed 59% of his passes, for 2,744 yards and 10 touchdowns to go along with the 17 picks. Gilbert was the Longhorns’ second leading rusher with 100 carries, 380 yards, and 5 touchdowns. Senior Cody Johnson is the leading rusher. He had 134 carries, 592 yards, and 6 touchdowns last year. Senior Foswhitt Whittaker had 80 carries, 351 yards, and 2 touchdowns last year along with 34 catches for 217 yards. Whittaker also competed 2 passes last year for 40 yards. Sophomore Mike Davis is the top receiver. He had 47 catches, 478 yards, and 2 touchdowns last year. Junior Marquise Goodwin had 31 catches 324 yards, and a touchdown last year.
Texas gave up only 302 yards a game on defense last year and 24 points a game. The defense returns 8 starters and will be led by nosetackle Kheeston Randall, MLB Keenan Robinson, and strong safety Blake Gideon.
Texas is 5-14 against the spread in games played on grass fields the last three years. Rice is 2-8 ATS in their last 10 against Big 12 teams. The Owls are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games. Texas is 8-3 ATS in the last 11 against C-USA teams. The Longhorns are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 as a favorite, and 1-6 in their last 7 home games. The over is 25-4 in Rice’s last 29 road games and 23-4 in the last 27 games when Rice is a road underdog. The under is 4-1 in Texas’s last 5 home games. The home team in this series is 4-1 ATS in the last 5.
Last season Texas beat Rice 34-17 in Houston. Texas is clearly the better team but Rice could keep this closer than people think. Texas lost home games to UCLA, Iowa St, Baylor, Oklahoma St, and Texas A&M last year. I am not saying Rice will win but they have a good shot of getting inside the 24.5 point spread, especially if Texas turns the ball over like they did last year.
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