Texas Football: 3 reasons the Longhorns will dominate Wyoming in Week 3

After a massive 34-24 win on the road in Tuscaloosa last weekend over the No. 3 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide and head coach Nick Saban, Texas football and head coach Steve Sarkisian refocus as they’re set to host the Wyoming Cowboys in Austin in Week 3. No. 4 Texas can keep momentum on its side heading into Big 12 play with a win over Wyoming at home at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Sep. 16.

Wyoming has some confidence heading into this game, coming off a big win of its own in the season’s first two games. Longtime head coach Craig Bohl and the Cowboys knocked off the Texas Tech Red Raiders in their season opener at home at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie on Sep. 2 by the final score of 35-33 in overtime.

Texas and Wyoming both come into Week 3 with undefeated 2-0 records on the season. Texas has the massive upset of Alabama by double digits last weekend and a season-opening win over the Rice Owls at home on Sep. 2 under their belt. Meanwhile, Wyoming downed Texas Tech in Week 2 and FCS Portland State by two touchdowns in Week 2 at home.

Why Texas football dominates Wyoming in Week 3

While Texas and Wyoming have some big wins in the first two weeks of the season, the former of these two teams is considered the heavy favorite for a reason coming into Week 3.

Here’s a look at three reasons why the Longhorns will dominate Wyoming in Week 3.

Texas’ interior defensive line should handle Wyoming’s smaller and more inexperienced interior offensive line

One of the biggest matchup advantages the Longhorns have against Wyoming lies in the trenches. Texas’ interior defensive line bolsters two of the most experienced, proven, and physical defensive/nose tackles in the Big 12 (if not the entire Power Five) in redshirt senior T’Vondre Sweat and junior Byron Murphy II.

DL coach Bo Davis and the Longhorns also have depth along the interior defensive line thanks to solid starts to this season from senior Alfred Collins and junior Vernon Broughton.

Wyoming should be overmatched with its smaller and more inexperienced group along the interior offensive line. The Cowboys have a couple of first-year starters at guard in redshirt sophomore Jack Walsh and redshirt freshman Wes King. Walsh is the bigger of the two guards, standing at 6-foot-3 and 314 pounds. King is 6-foot-5 and 292 pounds.

It will be a daunting challenge for King to match the pad level and power of the 6-foot-4 and 362-pound Sweat and the 6-foot-1 and 308-pound Murphy. Walsh stands a better chance, but these are two of the best interior defensive linemen they’ve faced at Wyoming.

The same could be said for the 6-foot-2 and 325-pound junior center Nofoafia Tulafona.

Wyoming’s interior offensive line has allowed three sacks and seven quarterback pressures in the first two games this season. After what Texas’ pass rush and interior defensive line did to Rice and Alabama in the last two games, it should easily control the line of scrimmage against Wyoming this weekend.