The Texas Longhorns are staring down the barrel of their third season in the SEC, but this year brings a new set of hurdles to get over.
For the first time since joining the conference, the Horns will face the LSU Tigers and the Tennessee Volunteers, playing both SEC opponents on their home turf instead of in Austin.
Also read: Longhorn Nation already in battle mode with afternoon kick to start the season
However, despite those teams having the home-field advantage, the Longhorns are favored in at least one of those matchups.
DraftKings released its opening odds for Texas's game against Tennessee, and the Horns are favored by seven points in the two teams' conference opener.
Texas favored over Tennessee in SEC opener
While the spread was set at -7 in favor of the Longhorns, the money line and over-under have yet to be set, most likely because the game is still over three and a half months away.
Texas and Tennessee, in a game that could settle the debate about which team is the "real UT," are scheduled to play on Saturday, Sept. 26, with the kickoff time yet to be announced.
Game spreads for TWO Tennessee Football games have been released by DraftKings 🍊
— FOX Sports Knoxville (@FOXSportsKnox) June 4, 2026
DraftKings released their “Games of the Year” spreads this week, and the #Vols have two games on the list.
Texas (-7) at Tennessee
Alabama (-1.5) at Tennessee
The Big Orange will open SEC play… pic.twitter.com/C5jIdVxLym
Despite the two schools being just a few states apart, the two teams have only played each other three times throughout their history. In those three meetings, Texas has walked away with two victories.
Texas vs. Tennessee football series history
The last time they played each other was nearly six decades ago, the two teams meeting in the 1969 Cotton Bowl, and the Horns secured a dominant win.
- 1951 Cotton Bowl, 14-20 Tennessee
- 1953 Cotton Bowl, 16-0 Texas
- 1969 Cotton Bowl, 36-13 Texas
All three times that the two teams have played have been in the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day. Also notably, this season's matchup will be the first time that the Longhorns have played the Volunteers out of their home state, with the Cotton Bowl taking place in Dallas, TX, until 2009.
Yet, even with the allure and home crowd that Rocky Top gives the Vols, the Horns are still favored to win their conference opener by a touchdown (and the subsequent extra point).
Read more: Texas receives some offseason excitement with updated odds vs. Ohio State
Odds for the Horns' road trip to Baton Rouge to face the Tigers have yet to be announced, but that is yet another stadium in the SEC known for its massive home-field advantage for the home team.
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