It took just one game where Texas showed true grit, called the right plays, and pulled off the top-ranked win for the world of college football to go all in on the Longhorns once again.
After the then-No. 4 Texas Longhorns defeated the then-No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes in a comeback victory, winning by just one point, the Horns flew back to the very top of the AP Top 25 Poll, and it wasn't the only thing they led the nation in.
Alongside the Longhorns' return to the No. 1 ranking, the oddsmakers in Vegas also went all in on Texas, making the team that wears burnt orange and white the favorite to win the National Championship this year.
Oddsmakers have Texas on top to win the National Championship after Week 2
Now, it isn't a complete runaway for the Longhorns quite yet; they are only narrowly favored over the three teams currently tied for second:
- Texas Longhorns, +600
- Ohio State Buckeyes, +650
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish, +650
- Georgia Bulldogs, +650
- Miami (FL) Hurricanes, +750
- Indiana Hoosiers, +850
Odds are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Even after blowing the 20-point lead to Texas, the Buckeyes are tied as one of the second-favorite teams to win it all, alongside the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Georgia Bulldogs.
Then, the two teams that were in last season's National Championship game round out the top teams, according to oddsmakers, with the Miami Hurricanes at +750 and the defending National Champion Indiana Hoosiers at +850.
While this was undeniably exciting for the Horns and a positive sign for the future, it wasn't exactly a complete vote of confidence.
College Football Playoff odds still aren't all-in on Texas
Despite leading the charge to win it all, according to Vegas, the Longhorns aren't the frontrunner in the odds to make the College Football Playoff.
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish, -800
- Miami Hurricanes, -650
- Texas Longhorns, -425
- Georgia Bulldogs, -350
- Indiana Hoosiers, -350
- Ohio State Buckeyes, -230
Unsurprisingly, it is all of the same programs at the forefront of odds, with the same six teams favored to make the CFP as are favored to win it all, just in a different order.
Texas's win over Ohio State, despite being a non-conference matchup, also pushed the Longhorns up in the odds to win the SEC title game, though.
Oddsmakers aren't quite ready to bet on Horns in SEC Championship
To the shock and awe of nobody, the Georgia Bulldogs are the favorites to win the SEC Championship game, but the margin is extremely narrow between the Dawgs and the Horns.
- Georgia Bulldogs, +270
- Texas Longhorns, +280
- LSU Tigers, +490
- Alabama Crimson Tide, +1000
- Ole Miss Rebels, +1200
- Texas A&M Aggies, +1200
And all of these odds are going to change at least 10 or 11 more times until the conference championships actually take place, until the CFP bracket is set, and until there are only two teams remaining in contention.
For now, however, the Horns should take confidence (but not too much) in the fact that AP voters and oddsmakers alike believe in their program once again.
Add us as a preferred source on Google