It's sad to see just how far the Texas Longhorns have fallen the last several seasons.
Now, they're the biggest underdogs they have been in a game since 1998 when they go on the road to take on the TCU Horned Frogs in Week 5 of the season.
ODDS ANALYSIS
That's right. You have to go all the way back to the Michael Bishop days at Kansas State to find the last team which was favored by more than 17 against the Longhorns. The number opened up at -17.5 in this one, and we can only imagine that it would have been far worse for the Horns had TCU not nearly laid a massive egg last weekend in Lubbock.
Of course, the fact that the Horned Frogs were in a shootout last week is why the total is set so high at 70.
The betting public expects the Longhorns to hang in a high scorer with the spread falling to -15 and the total jumping up to 72.
KEY MISMATCH
Mobile quarterbacks have had all sorts of luck against the Longhorns in the Charlie Strong era, and Boykin wasn't an exception last year. Yes, he only had a relatively modest 283 total yards and three touchdowns between his arm and his legs, but he was also good enough to help put 48 points on the board.
This year, we haven't seen the Longhorns play against a mega-mobile quarterback like Boykin, but we did see them allow a total of six touchdown throws with no picks against Malik Zaire and Jared Goff, two of the top quarterbacks in the nation.
Boykin could be in for even better numbers than that.
KEY STAT
29.4 – Texas' third down conversion percentage. The Longhorns have been horribly inefficient all year long, going just 15-of-51 on third downs. They also only have a total of 58 first downs in four games, ranking No. 115 in the nation, below a couple dozen teams who have only played three games.
BETTING ANGLE
The Horned Frogs had a perfect run of it last October, going 4-0 ATS in their conference games, and we have little reason to believe that they won't be in for a similar fate this season if last week's game against Texas Tech was a blip on the radar instead of the new normal.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Say what you want about the 1-3 Longhorns, but they arguably could be 4-0 and ranked in the Top 10 in America if not for a couple mind-blowing errors.
There's no doubt that Strong is going to end up in a lot of hot water when this game is lost as well, and the boosters in Austin are really going to have a problem if the Horns lose the Red River Rivalry next week as well.
However, Jerrod Heard has given the Longhorns a chance to win games, and the Horned Frogs are incredibly overrated as we see it. Just as we picked Texas Tech to give TCU a game last week, we think that Texas is going to do the same on Saturday. This isn't going to be an easy game for the Horned Frogs as many suspect as long as the Longhorns aren't looking ahead to that game next week against Oklahoma.
TCU 37, Texas 31
BookMaker opened the spread for this Saturday game before anyone else on the internet. The TCU Horned Frogs opened at -17.5 alongside a total of 70. NCAAF In-game spreads, totals, moneylines and props are available for this game using the live betting platform at BookMaker.
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone or tablet with BookMaker's new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here, and start wagering today! The battle between the Texas Longhorns and the TCU Horned Frogs will kick off Saturday, October 3, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. ET at Amon G. Carter Stadium. The contest will be broadcast nationally on ABC.
