Texas Football: 5 reasons the Longhorns will upset LSU

5. Underdog mentality

As the head coach for the Texas football program, Herman holds an 8-2-1 career record against the spread when he enters as the underdog. He’s also 13-2-1 in his coaching career between his time on the Forty Acres and his previous position as head coach of the Houston Cougars football program as an under dog against the spread.

It’s clear that Herman and the Longhorns can thrive when they’re doubted. All the confidence heading in LSU’s favor right now is about the best thing that could happen for the Longhorns at least in terms of the hype, expectations, and pressure.

Now, there’s more hurdles in the way for Herman to win this game than most when he’s an underdog. All the chips were seemingly in his favor against LSU when fall camp was still happening. But the Longhorns had a rash of injuries, especially in the running back room, and the uphill battle looks pretty daunting at the moment.

Wins over the Georgia Bulldogs, Oklahoma Sooners, and the Iowa State Cyclones last season proved that Herman is up to the occasion even with the road blocks facing him. The problems for him last year weren’t against teams with as highly touted or as talented as LSU. It was losses to teams like the Maryland Terrapins and Oklahoma State Cowboys that were the problem.