Texas Football: Game-by-game predictions for the Longhorns in 2019
Week 3
Opponent: Rice Owls
Date: Sep. 14
Location: NRG Stadium (Houston, TX)
The home of the Houston Texans, NRG Stadium, will be the site of the final non-conference showdown for Texas football in 2019. The Longhorns have the Rice Owls on tap for the final non-conference game and one of two neutral site showdowns on the season.
Although this game will be much closer to the campus of Rice University in the Houston-Metro area, there should be a lot more fans wearing burnt orange than dark blue. Houston still isn’t that far away from the University of Texas campus. NRG Stadium is also smaller by capacity than DKR, so there should be a lot of noise compacted supporting the Longhorns. That could give this team an early boost.
This game just feels different compared to how most non-conference games go for Herman. Usually they’re close, even against lesser Group of Five opposition. But Rice should go like the home matchup against the San Jose State Spartans did two seasons ago. Rice shouldn’t stand much of a chance here.
The lone Rice touchdown will come from the 5-foot-10 sophomore running back Juma Otoviano. He is about the only reliable skill position weapon returning on the offensive side of the ball for Rice. Ehlinger gets pulled early in the second half after totaling five touchdowns and redshirt freshman quarterback Casey Thompson gets the first taste of game action in his career.