#4 – Texas Longhorns 13-0 SU; 11-2 ATS
Fargo’s Take
- If Vince Young decided to stick around
for his senior season, the Longhorns would be
the easy favorites to repeat as National Champions
while Young would be the likely Heisman favorite
as well. Instead, Texas must try and defend its
title with a quarterback who has never played
in a college game. Colt McCoy has the name and
raw talent to become a star but the inexperience
is a huge concern. What he does have is playmakers
aplenty around him which should ease some of the
transition. The defense will also be asked to
step things up early on but that will not be a
problem at all. The Longhorns have won at least
10 games for five straight seasons so winning
is never a question. Breaking through and winning
the big games was a question prior to last season
but with the first National Championship in 36
years in Austin, Texas is now part of the elite
category. The schedule will be difficult yet again
but if McCoy learns quickly, a repeat title is
not out of the question.
Returning Starters
on Offense – 6 McCoy redshirted last
season so he does have a season of the system
under his belt which is what was the deciding
factor in winning the job over true freshman Jevan
Snead. Two of the top three receivers are back
in Limas Sweed and Billy Pittman while redshirt
freshman Jermichael Finley turned a lot of heads
at tight end. Three starters along the offensive
line are back and depth is everywhere so there
will be no dropoff there. The running game will
be just fine despite the suspension and subsequent
transfer of running back Ramonce Taylor. Leading
returning rusher Jamaal Charles, who gained 878
yards and an amazing 7.4 ypc, is only a sophomore
but he is projected as a first team All-Big XII
running back. Senior Selvin Young (461, 4.8) is
also going to be a big contributor. Texas finished
1st in scoring offense, 2nd in rushing offense
and 3rd in total offense and while those rankings
likely won’t be matched, this is still going
to be a very potent offense.
Returning Starters
on Defense – 7 If for some reason
the offense struggles, the defense is more than
ready to pick up the slack. The Longhorns finished
8th in scoring defense and 10th in total defense
last season and will be even better in 2006. This
is tabbed at the best defense in the conference
and 2nd best in the nation thanks to seven players
coming back and depth everywhere on the field.
The secondary has two first team All-Big XII players
in corner Tarell Brown and strong safety Michael
Griffin both of whom are on All-American watch
lists. The defensive line also boasts two first-team
all-conference players in defensive end Tim Crowder
and defensive tackle Frank Okam. If there is a
weakness, it is at linebacker but speed and depth
will make that unit successful as well. Texas
has one of the best defensive coordinators in
the country with Gene Chizik, who is in his second
season after leading Auburn to the top ranked
scoring defense in 2004.
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Schedule
-Everybody will be coming after Texas this season
but matching the talent to actually win those
games is a completely different scenario. The
Longhorns start the season with a home rout of
North Texas before hosting revenge-minded Ohio
St. in what should be a similar classic to that
of last season. Texas then gets a three-game break
against Rice, Iowa St. and Sam Houston St. before
heading to Dallas to take on Red River Shootout
rival Oklahoma. The Longhorns should win the remaining
games on the slate starting with a home game against
Baylor and finishing with games against Oklahoma
St., Kansas St. and Texas A&M at home. Sandwiched
in there however are two road games at Nebraska
and Texas Tech that are by no means easy wins.
Another trip to the Big XII Championship is likely
if it can get past the Sooners and Red Raiders
away from home.
You can bet on…
USC was able to repeat, twice actually, so the
Longhorns are certainly capable. Young at the
helm would have made things a lot easier but this
is still one of the most talented teams in the
country. Texas has won 20 straight games, the
longest streak in the country and no team wants
to snap that more than the Buckeyes who were defeated
at home last year by the Longhorns in the final
seconds. Texas destroyed most of its competition
last year which led to its 11-2 record against
the number. The Longhorns are 10-4 as road favorites
over the last three years and if it is available,
that is where the value will be found albeit not
much. The first road game this season is at Rice
and not only does it follow Ohio St. meaning letdown
but the home team is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings
in that series.
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