The Texas Longhorns delivered the biggest win of the college football season in Week 2 when they recorded a 34-24 road victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide. Texas was a 7-point road favorite, but ultimately won outright in Tuscaloosa.
In that showdown, quarterback Quinn Ewers threw for 349 yards and three touchdowns. Texas scored three times in the fourth quarter to ultimately prevail. The performance propelled Ewers into a Heisman contender, and the Longhorns also saw their national championship odds receive a big boost.
But now the Longhorns need to avoid a letdown spot, as they are set to welcome the Wyoming Cowboys to town in Week 3. FanDuel Sportsbook has installed Texas as a 29.5-point favorite in this matchup, with the over/under sitting at 49.5.
The Cowboys come in with a 2-0 record of their own, which includes a win over a Big 12 team. Wyoming began the year with a 35-33 overtime victory over Tech Tech, a team many considered a trendy Big 12 sleeper entering the season. The Cowboys were actually two-touchdown underdogs in Week 1.
Can Wyoming pull off another upset, or at least make this game closer than anticipated?
Let’s take a closer look at the odds and trends:
Wyoming at Texas
Time/TV: 7 p.m., Longhorn Network
Point spread (from FanDuel): Texas -29.5
Moneyline: Wyoming +1600/Texas -4500
Over/under: 49.5
Analysis: As the betting odds would indicate, this game will likely be over before it really even begins. Texas is considered a 15.5-point favorite in the first half alone, with bettors needing to lay as much as -142 juice to back the home team.
Bettors might prefer to attack the player prop market for value instead. Ewers has an over/under of 275.5 passing yards. Running back Jonathon Brooks has a rushing yardage total of 78.5, while receiver Xavier Worthy has a receiving yardage line of 71.5. Steve Sarkisian’s squad simply has too much firepower for Wyoming to keep up in this game.
In addition, Wyoming’s Week 1 win over Texas Tech might prove to cost the Cowboys in this game. Texas is more likely to take Wyoming seriously, despite SP+ giving the Cowboys a 16% post-game win expectancy in that opener.
Even in a potential letdown spot, there is no reason to expect much suspense when it comes to the outcome of this contest. With talented backup quarterbacks on the Texas sideline having something to prove, as well, there honestly might be more logic in laying the big number this weekend.
Prediction: Texas 45, Wyoming 10
