No. 7 Texas vs. BYU Predictions, Odds & Picks

The No. 7 Texas Longhorns (6-1) will look to keep their hopes of making the College Football Playoff alive when they square off with one of their new Big 12 rivals, the BYU Cougars (5-2).

Texas had a standout win on the road against No. 3 Alabama, 34-24, but lost its bid at perfection two weeks ago in a 34-30 loss to No. 12 Oklahoma. BYU has not played a ranked opponent yet but is 2-2 in conference play and also beat Arkansas 38-31 earlier in the year.

As we continue, we’ll discuss the betting odds and share our favorite picks for the matchup.

No. 7 Texas vs. BYU Odds

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No. 7 Texas vs. BYU Betting Preview

Texas is a heavy favorite over BYU on their home field. However, starting quarterback Quinn Ewers’ status is in question after he left last week’s win over Houston with a shoulder injury.

For the season, Ewers has 1,915 yards, 13 touchdowns, three interceptions, and a 77.9 QBR (17th in Division-I). He went 23/29 for 211 yards and two touchdowns against Houston before he was replaced by backup Maalik Murphy. UT coach Steve Sarkisian said that he does not believe the injury will end Ewers’ seasons, and he considers him week-to-week and hopes he’ll be back “sooner than later.”

Texas is 27th in scoring and puts up 34.4 points per game. They jump to the top 15 in total offense and generate 468.4 yards on average when they take the field. They’re heavily penalized but do a nice job taking care of the ball, though they don’t take it away from opponents frequently.

Running back Jonathan Brooks has already scampered for 825 yards, six touchdowns, and has 6.4 yards per carry. He’s seventh in rushing yards and fourth in yards per carry (6.4) among players with at least 100 carries.

The Longhorns' defense is a real strength and ranks 17th in points allowed per game (17.4). They’re average against the pass but are 16th in run defense and are strong in the front seven.

BYU, meanwhile, is coming off a 27-14 win over Texas Tech. Former USC and Pitt quarterback Kedon Slovisonly managed 127 yards on 15/27 passing but had two touchdowns and has a season resume of 217 yards per game, 12 touchdowns, and four interceptions. He’s completing just 56.6% of his passes and is 79th in QBR.

BYU gained 150 yards on the ground on 30 carries last week, despite only ranking 130th in run production overall. They score a modest 27.6 points per game and allow 24.3 per outing, which makes their 5-2 record more impressive.

Three of the Cougars’ five games have come down to one-score differences. They ended up winning both but have not beaten P5 opponents in consecutive weeks yet.

Where the Cougars thrive is by forcing mistakes. They’re fourth in turnovers gained (16) and have caused 11 interceptions and recorded five fumbles.

No. 7 Texas vs. BYU Picks & Predictions

No. 7 Texas -18.5 (-110)

One quick glance at the spread will reveal that no matter one’s allegiance or bias, Texas is the far superior team. We believe they can cover the spread if Ewers plays or sits but would still advise waiting to see the final injury report before pulling the trigger.

BYU’s defense may be opportunistic, but it isn’t great at stopping run or pass. Brooks should find himself a hefty workload over the weekend which will be key in softening up the Cougars and leading Texas to a victory.

UT’s defense can be beaten over the top, but a commitment to the ground game will ensure they dominate the time of possession battle. Slovis is also inaccurate and doesn’t make great decisions with the football and will struggle against the athletes of the Texas defense.

Under 50 (-110)

Following the logic of our Texas spread pick, we like this game to go under. The Longhorns need to prepare themselves to dominate the trenches, run the ball, and control the clock.

BYU doesn’t have the horses to consistently push the ball down the field and is likely to see a lot of three-and-outs. With Ewers expected to be sidelined, we also don’t envision Texas’ offense having many explosive gains through the air, which should also help keep the total under.

The primary concern will be if either team turns the ball over and sets their opponent up on a short field. But even with that risk, the under seems like a better play than the over.

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How to Watch No. 7 Texas vs. BYU

• Where: DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, TX
• When: Saturday, Oct. 28, 2:30/3:30 p.m. CT/ET
• TV: ABC

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