Texas at Texas Tech

The Big 12 Conference opener for both squads. Texas has a run-oriented offense behind Bijan Robinson (311 yards, 6.1 ypc) taking the heat off of freshman QB Quinn Ewers (2 TDs, 1 INT). Ewers is injured (collar bone), so redshirt sophomore Hudson Card started last week but was inconsistent. Former TCU head coach Gary Patterson is aboard as a special assistant and has helped to upgrade the defense a lot, not allowing more than 20 points in all three games. That's even more impressive when you remember they lost to No. 1 Alabama, 20-19, holding the Tide to 5-of-15 on third down. Texas is 46-20 UNDER the total against winning teams, as well as 36-16 UNDER after a spread cover. Texas Tech has a high-scoring reputation, but don't forget they come into the new season with a new QB in Donovan Smith (7 TDs, 5 INTs), an offensive line that lost three starters, and a young receiving corps after WR Erik Ezukanma left for the NFL. The offense is averaging 3.1 yards per rush and has scored just 20 and 14 points in regulation in each of the last two games, a double-OT win over Houston and a 27-14 loss to NC State. Play Texas/Texas Tech UNDER the total.