Early odds, points spreads released for two Texas football games

Early point spreads for a pair of 2023 Texas football games have been released, according to FanDuel. The Longhorns open as an 8.5-point underdog for a Week 2 matchup against Alabama and as a 3.5-point favorite for the annual Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma in Week 6.

Texas finished with an 8-5 record in 2022 and once again enters this season with high expectations. It will be the third year for coach Steve Sarkisian, who has a 13-12 record through his first two.

The Longhorns lose leading rusher Bijan Robinson, but bring back starting quarterback Quinn Ewers. His top two targets return in Xavier Worthy (760 yards and nine touchdowns) and Jordan Whittington (652 yards and one touchdown). Texas also added another weapon through the transfer portal in Georgia receiver AD Mitchell.

The Longhorns are set to enter their final season in the Big 12 before joining the SEC in 2024, along with the Sooners. With that being the case, the matchup against Alabama is a preview of many more to come in future seasons.

Texas lost to the Crimson Tide 20-19 on a last-second field goal this past season in Austin. The 2023 matchup is scheduled to take place in Tuscaloosa. Alabama loses starting quarterback Bryce Young to the NFL, as well as leading rusher Jahmyr Gibbs. The Longhorns hold a 7-2 all-time record against the Crimson Tide, though they’ve met just twice since 2010.

As for Oklahoma, Texas notched a dominant 49-0 victory this past season. It snapped a four-game losing streak against the Sooners. The Red River Rivalry is always one of the most anticipated games across college football every season, and 2023 should be no different.

There’s still a long way to go until the start of the football season, but these point spreads give an early idea of where Texas stacks up in two of its biggest games of the year. The Longhorns will kick off 2023 at home against Rice on Sept. 2.