In a rollercoaster of a season, the Texas Longhorns have righted the ship and are back on track to return to the College Football Playoff.
However, there are four games remaining, and the first one up is a top-25 matchup on the road against the No. 18 Missouri Tigers. So, as the Horns look to cement their place in the postseason, what should we expect, and what are oddsmakers expecting, out of Texas?
Well, despite the Horns struggling against lesser opponents throughout the season, and despite the fact that it's a road game for them, head coach Steve Sarkisian and his squad are favored in Columbia this Saturday.
Final spread, moneyline, and total for No. 7 Texas at No. 18 Missouri
- Spread: -2.5 Texas, +2.5 Missouri
- Moneyline: -142 Texas, +120 Missouri
- Over-Under: +/-42.5 points
While the spread hasn't changed throughout the week, with the Horns idling as 2.5-point favorites, the point total has dropped from the initial 44.5-point expectation.
Now, the over-under is set at just 42.5 points, giving a nod to the two teams' defenses over their offenses and setting the final score somewhere in the ballpark of 22.5-20, with the Horns walking away victorious.
For understanding the moneyline, one simply can't overthink what the numbers mean. If someone bet $142 on the Horns winning, they would walk away with a $100 profit. If they bet $100 on the Tigers winning, they would walk away with a $120 profit. Makes sense, right?
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.
Keys to Longhorns defeating the Tigers in Week 10
So, in order for the Longhorns to pull off that narrow victory (or, hopefully, by a larger margin) over Missouri?
Well, for starters, with both starting wide receivers Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo possibly missing from the lineup, quarterback Arch Manning is going to have to either (1) connect with new downfield targets or (2) continue to use his legs more.
Similarly, the Texas offense will have to lean on the run game, which has been hit or miss this season, despite the fact that the team's original RB1, Hollywood Smothers, has been sidelined for the season with a torn MCL.
So, Raleek Brown and supporting running backs Michael Terry III and Derrek Cooper Jr. will have to step up to the plate to carry the load out of the backfield.
The Horns are also struggling with injuries on the defensive side of the ball, possibly opening up the air-raid offense for the Tigers and quarterback Austin Simmons. However, even with the nation's top defensive player, Colin Simmons, still sidelined, Texas has continued to dominate at the line of scrimmage.
In other words, this might be an even lower-scoring game than Vegas oddsmakers are expecting, especially if Texas struggles to find its footing right away on offense.
Final score prediction: Texas 21, Missouri 18
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