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Is Texas back? It’s the most overused joke you are guaranteed to hear all season long. The Texas Longhorns are set to begin their 2020 season as massive home favorites over the UTEP Miners.
Texas will return Sam Ehlinger, who is going into his fourth season as the Longhorns’ starting quarterback. If he can bring Texas to national prominence contending for the Big 12 and into the College Football Playoff, he will have quite the legacy to look back on as a four-year starter.
This will be the Longhorns’ season opener, but UTEP already has a game under its belt. The Miners are coming off a 24-14 victory over FCS opponent Stephen F. Austin. Running back Gavin Hardison rushed for 113 yards and scored two touchdowns for UTEP in the win. Not being able to comfortably put away Stephen F. Austin doesn’t bode well for UTEP heading into this game as massive underdogs.
These two teams last played each other in 2016, which resulted in a 41-7 victory for Texas.
Game Time/TV Channel/Streaming
Saturday’s game will be played at 8 p.m. ET in Austin, Texas. The game will be aired on the Longhorn Network.
Point Spread, Totals, Odds, Trends
Point spread: UTEP (+43) vs. Texas
Point Total: O/U 58.5 (-110)
Money line: N/A
- UTEP finished 1-11 straight up last season.
- The Miners were 3-8-1 against the spread in 2019.
- Texas finished 8-5 last season, capped off with an Alamo Bowl win over Utah.
- In 2019, the Longhorns were 7-6 against the spread.
The Best Bet
UTEP might be the worst team in all of FBS this season, and the Miners didn’t exactly disprove that point last weekend when they trailed Stephen F. Austin late in the second quarter. Texas should control this game with ease given the 43-point spread. Will the Longhorns be able to cover that high of a number? Maybe, but it might take just one UTEP score to hit the over, and Texas might be able to do it by itself.
Pick: Over 58.5
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