2011 NCAA Football Odds: Texas Longhorns Preview

Monday, August 15, 2011

by Aengus Moorehead

2011 NCAA Football Odds: Texas Longhorns Preview

2010 Season
Overall: 5-7
Vs Big12 South: 1-4
Vs Top 25: 1-4

It’s undeniable that while Michigan, USC, Penn State, Notre Dame, and other high-profile football outfits fight to get back to the upper echelon of the college football world, the most scrutinized team in the sport this season will be the Texas Longhorns. Just how will this proud program rebound from a bowl-less season, a sub-.500 campaign that left the Lone Star State in a condition of utter disbelief? Yes, the 2010 season was not expected to be a dominant one for the guys in Burnt Orange, but it wasn’t supposed to witness a full-fledged fall-off-the-cliff nightmare.

That 12-game trail of tears represented an historic letdown, a miserable journey that couldn’t end soon enough. For the first time since 1997, the Longhorns were under .500 and failed to finish in the top 25. Just a year removed from competing in the BCS National Championship Game against Alabama, Texas plunged out of the 70-team pool of bowl participants… that’s how bad the Horns were.

The quarterback play of Garrett Gilbert was a thorn in the side of the Texas community all season long. In his first year as a starter, Gilbert threw 17 interceptions, compared to only 10 touchdown passes. Albeit, Texas had injury problems up front, especially on the right side of its offensive line, but with that having been said, a school such as Texas should have skill people who are resourceful enough to make a reasonable share of big plays on fall Saturdays. Gilbert was relatively impotent, and what hurts even more is that he did not become a noticeably wiser signal caller as the season went along. Indeed, the problem in Texas was that while injuries definitely limited coach Mack Brown’s options, the players who took to the field at a blue-chip program were not developed at a level most football watchers would normally expect. Player development at the University of Texas should be a core strength of the program, but it was missing from the 2010 equation. The lack of growth throughout the roster, made plain by a woeful November crash, revealed a coaching staff – especially on the offensive side of the ball – that was not particularly agile. As a result of the 2010 train-wreck, Brown fired longtime offensive coordinator Greg Davis.

In 2011, Gilbert is in the midst of a three-way competition for the starting job. None of the three have separated themselves, although one has to think Gilbert has the upper hand. Connor Wood and Case McCoy have August camp in which to make an impression. Mike Davis may very well be poised for a breakout season at receiver. Marquise Goodwin is a speedster that makes plays. If the Longhorns can get a consistent running game going, they certainly have options on the outside. Seven offensive starters are back this season. The Longhorns will have new co-offensive coordinators to guide them in 2011. Bryan Harsin, who had coached at Boise State for ten years, will join former Texas quarterback Major Applewhite in coaching duties. The innovative Harsin could make a huge difference for the Longhorns.  He certainly promises to diversify the playbook more than Davis did. The offensive staff received a significant upgrade; it would be hard to arrive at a different conclusion.

The defense, which was shredded against both Kansas State and Oklahoma State last season, also returns seven starters. The Texas Longhorns certainly have the talent to play with anyone in the country. Linebackers Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho are as good as you’ll find in college football. Blake Gideon, now a senior, will be looking to make plays in the secondary. With defensive coordinator Will Muschamp gone to Florida, Manny Diaz takes the reins of a Texas defense that desperately wants to get back to playing at an elite level; it was okay last year (the offense sabotaged the team), but okay isn’t supposed to cut it at Texas. An aggressive style is sure to follow, but can Texas get back to greatness? The schedule should provide some good barometers for the Longhorns at various points along the way. A week two home game with upstart BYU may be a good indicator of Texas’ stature in 2011. The Longhorns travel to UCLA in week three with revenge on their minds after last year’s 34-12 humiliation at the hands of the Bruins. Back-to-back games against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in mid-October will be the keys to the conference season. Road games against Missouri and Texas A&M in November will be difficult.

Bodog Sportsbook Odds to win the 2011-2012 BCS National Championship: 30/1

Texas Longhorns 2011 - 2012 Schedules

DATE OPPONENT
09/03/2011 vs Rice
09/10/2011 vs BYU
09/17/2011 at UCLA
10/01/2011 at Iowa State
10/08/2011 vs Oklahoma
10/15/2011 vs Oklahoma State
10/29/2011 vs Kansas
11/05/2011 vs Texas Tech
11/12/2011 at Missouri
11/19/2011 vs Kansas State
11/24/2011 at Texas A&M
12/03/2011 at Baylor

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bcs national championship - blake gideon - bryan harsin - case mccoy - connor wood - emmanuel acho - garrett gilbert - keenan robinson - mack brown - major applewhite