Inside Texas Answers: Texas versus Texas Tech predictions
Big 12 play gets started this Saturday when the Texas Longhorns host the Texas Tech Red Raiders. The Inside Texas staff offers their best guesses for the result of Texas versus Texas Tech.
Justin Wells – 24-21, Texas. Texas always enters this yearly contest with more talent and often that proves to be enough. 2021 is no different. Texas Tech can run the ball, play decent defense, and wants to start Big 12 play 1-0, just like the Horns. But UT’s backfield of Bijan, Roschon, and Keilan might be too much for the Red Raiders on Saturday. Texas holds the advantages and should win on that alone.
Eric Nahlin – 42-24, Texas. My confidence this week stems from a belief the Texas defense will improve its run defense over previous weeks. The 2021 Red Raiders have shown the ability to run the ball well pretty consistently, and might get a boost by the return of SaRodorick Thompson, but I think the D-line and linebackers will answer the call. Tyler Shough and Erik Ezukanma have the talent level to take the game into their own hands, but it would require poor cornerback play and/or scheming for that to happen. I think Casey Thompson will play a clean, composed game in his first genuine test. If he does that, the overall offense can be effective by just being average on the day. Tech dyslexics rejoice at that score but Texas wins.
Joe Cook – 35-28, Texas. Tyler Shough may be on a bit of a hot streak right now after his 399-yard, four-touchdown performance against Florida International, but Texas is far and away the biggest challenge this year for Matt Wells’ bunch. The Texas defensive line needs to make life difficult for Shough, and the Longhorn corners need to make sure Erik Ezukanma doesn’t run free in the secondary. If Texas limits TTU’s big plays and makes them try to earn it bit-by-bit, advantage Longhorns. Knowing what we know about the Texas offense, it won’t be easy but the Longhorns should prevail in the end.
Ian Boyd – 41-27, Texas. This game is a great test of many components to the Steve Sarkisian Longhorns. Can they avoid allowing a spread team to punch above their weight by isolating Erik Ezukanma? Can their interior D-line stop up a strong Tech run game? Is Casey Thompson ready to handle a conference game against an opponent who’s scouted and gameplanned for him? I think it’s a good on ramp for the team to face a sturdy but passable test at home.
Hudson Standish – 39-24, Texas. After watching Tech’s games against Houston, SFA, and FIU I don’t see the drastic improvement that many of the CFB projection models do. While the Longhorns aren’t a perfect team by any means, I think they have enough firepower to put this one away before halftime and cover the current spread plus the opening 13-point line. One specific thing I’ll be looking for is pre snap motion with Xavier Worthy and Keilan Robinson to horizontally stress the Tech run defense before battering them with Bijan.
Scipio Tex – 30-27, Texas. The Longhorns and the Red Raiders are both unknowns. This game should provide some clarity. Is Tech as bad as the team that struggled with SFA or as good as the team that thumped Florida International? While Longhorn fans struggle to understand why the defensive line has not performed to expectations, the Texas secondary will face their biggest challenge of the year. Offensively, Texas will have to show that they have answers for an experienced, stunting, blitzing Tech defense.
Bobby Burton – 33-26, Texas. Texas Tech’s offense showed signs of life against Florida International last Saturday just one week after really struggling against SFA. It appears transfer QB Tyler Shough is settling in and starting to find his playmakers, most notably WR Erik Ezukanma. On the other side of the ball, expect Tech to dial up blitzes from just about everywhere and at all times. They’re going to make Texas QB Casey Thompson prove he can make good decisions and good throws under duress, while poking at a Texas OL that has been inconsistent at best in pass protection. If Tech hits a few key big plays on offense, defense or special teams, the game likely swings in their favor. Otherwise, Texas should be able to get Bijan Robinson loose enough for a victory. And for what it’s worth, I think the 11 a.m. start time favors the Horns. Texas wins but doesn’t cover the Vegas spread.
Gerry Hamilton – 34-24, Texas. The Longhorns should win this game. At this point, winning by one score or two scores doesn’t matter. It’s just about winning. The Texas secondary will be truly tested for the first time this season. Texas Tech has a future NFL receiver in Erik Ezukanma, and the Red Raiders will target him plenty. The Red Raiders will have the best pair of running backs Texas has faced this season. Bottom line, the Texas defensive front has to play their best game of the season both against the run, and in the pass game. Offensively, Bijan Robinson and Xavier Worthy need to be better than anyone else on the field. That means the Texas interior offensive line will have to hold up for that to happen.
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