Week 1 2012 Wyoming vs Texas Predictions
The expectations for these Wyoming Cowboys is to finish in the middle of the pack in the Mountain West…again. A couple of years ago it looked like this program might turn a corner but the transfer of QB Austyn Carta-Samuels set the program back a bit.
Wyoming Cowboys vs Texas Longhorns
Saturday September 1
Darrel K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium – Autin, TX
8:00PM
Moneyline: Texas -10000, Wyoming +1600
Spread: Texas -31.5
O/U: 51
Wyoming
This is the third time in the last 4 seasons they have faced Texas (kudos). They are 1-0-1 ATS in those games.
Wyoming features QB Brett Smith, last year’s MWC Freshman of the Year. Smith is an underrated run-pass threat that achieved the rare feat of leading his team in passing and rushing while combining for a total of 30 TDs last season. He completes a high percentage of his passes and has shown good decision making.
For what it is worth his best passing games were on the road last year with a high of 341 in a win at San Diego State.
This is a big number but no surprise given the teams and the location. Wyoming was a 35 point dog on the road last year at Boise State and covered easily. There is some pretty good value on the Wyoming side because Texas, while infinitely more talented, has been struggling to turn that talent into points on offense the last couple of seasons.
4+ TDs might be a tall order in week 1. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Texas
The Texas Longhorns should be on their way back to prominence. The bottomed out a couple of years ago at 5-7 but were at least respectable at 8-5 last year.
The offense rebounded to score 28ppg but that was still way below what they are accustomed to in Austin. With 9 starters back and yet another #1 rated running back recruit added to the mix this team should be much better.
What held the Longhorns back more than anything last year was QB play. After Vince Young and Colt McCoy there was bound to be a dropoff but with top recruits no one could have expected a fall this far. With four returning starters on the offensive line they might just try and run teams into submission but they also have their top 4 returning receivers from last year.
There is a lot of room for improvement for the Texas’ offense.
Texas is a very public team and it is no shock they they were installed as heavy favourites against Wyoming.
The brands may further apart than the talent on the field and when you have a mobile QB to try and corral like Smith funny things can happen – even against a very strong defense. If you can’t tell I think the smart play is to fade Texas in this one.
Make them show you something first.
Spread Pick: Wyoming +31.5
O/U Pick: Over
Score Prediction: Texas 38 – Wyoming 24
