Texas football vs. BYU: Prediction and odds Week 9

The next contest on tap for No. 7 Texas football and head coach Steve Sarkisian is on Oct. 28 at home at DKR in Austin against head coach Kalani Sitake and the BYU Cougars. Texas looks to extend its winning streak to two games if it can get the win behind first-time starting quarterback, redshirt freshman Maalik Murphy, against BYU this weekend.

Murphy will be starting for the first time in his collegiate career after redshirt sophomore quarterback Quinn Ewers suffered a shoulder injury in Texas’ win over the Houston Cougars on the road last weekend. Murphy saw live-game action last week for two drives in Texas’ 31-24 escape of Houston on the road at TDECU Stadium.

The Longhorns’ triumph over Houston moves its record on the season to 6-1 (3-1 Big 12). Texas is still very much in the race for a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game, sitting in a four-way tie for second place in the conference standings with the Kansas State Wildcats, Oklahoma State Cowboys, and Iowa State Cyclones.

BYU is .500 in conference play this season after four Big 12 games. Sitake and the Cougars boast a record of 5-2 (2-2 Big 12) after a 27-14 win at home at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Oct. 21 over an injured Texas Tech Red Raiders squad.

Here’s a look at the betting odds and game prediction as No. 7 Texas hosts BYU at home at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin on Oct. 28, with the kickoff time set for 2:30 p.m. CT.

Texas football vs. BYU: Odds for Week 9 2023

Texas is a 19.0-point favorite against BYU in this game, and the over/under is set at 50 points (per Caesers Sportsbook).

The spread has moved 1.5 points in Texas’ favor since the Longhorns opened as a 17.5-point favorite.

According to the ESPN matchup predictor, Texas has a 94.9 percent chance of beating BYU in Week 9.

Texas football vs. BYU prediction

Sark gets his first opportunity to face his alma mater as a college head coach this weekend. He played quarterback at BYU in 1995 and 1996.

Texas must find a way to get the offense going under a first-time starting quarterback and a bevy of other injuries on both sides of the ball. On offense, the Longhorns still have players such as junior tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders, senior center Jake Majors, and sophomore interior offensive lineman Cole Hutson dealing with various injuries.

It’s even worse with the injuries on defense for the Longhorns. Redshirt junior boundary corner Ryan Watts, redshirt junior corner Gavin Holmes, sophomore corner Terrance Brooks, senior nickel Jahdae Barron, sophomore edge rusher Ethan Burke, and senior safety Jalen Catalon are just some of the many Texas defenders dealing with injuries coming out of Week 8.

The good news for the Texas defense is that the BYU offense is one of the worst in the Big 12 this fall. BYU ranks dead last in the Big 12 this season in total offense, yards per play (4.9), and rushing yards per game (79.3).

I give the sizable edge in this game between the two offenses to the Longhorns, especially if Murphy has a solid debut this weekend. Texas also has the edge on defense since it boasts the No. 1 unit in the Big 12 this season (according to FEI-adjusted ratings).

Final score prediction: Texas-31, BYU-20