Tag: Texas vs BYU predictions

Social media buzz ahead of Saturday’s game between Texas, BYU

We look at Texas fans’ pregame chatter.

Texas and BYU are set to face off for a crucial game for both programs. At stake for both is a chance to compete for a Big 12 title for another week.

The BYU Cougars (5-2) have made the most of their production despite ranking dead last in the Big 12 in total yards per game (301.9). The team enters Austin with a tremendous opportunity to put its program on the map for big time recruits.

You can expect plenty of enthusiasm from BYU faithful who reside in Texas and haven’t seen their team play in their home state. The wide-reaching fanbase certainly has this game circled.

Texas gives the keys to backup quarterback Maalik Murphy for his first start of his college career. Here’s a look at what Texas fans are saying ahead of the game.

Experts predict Saturday’s game between Texas and BYU

Experts predict the game as Maalik Murphy makes his first college start.

The Texas Longhorns are set to clash with the BYU Cougars on Saturday. Texas has everything to lose. BYU has everything to gain.

Any number of scenarios could play out in Austin. There’s a real possibility that the Longhorns are uncomfortable for all four quarters on Saturday. There’s another real possibility that Texas thumps BYU as badly as TCU did two weeks ago. The Cougars lost that battle in Fort Worth, 44-11.

Somehow, the Cougars check in at 5-2 on the season. It hasn’t had much to do with offensive production. On the year, BYU averages 301.9 total yards per contest. The Longhorns average nearly that much through the air. Texas puts up 289 passing yards per game with an additional 179.4 rushing yards per game.

Among causes for concern, the Longhorns will be without starting quarterback Quinn Ewers as Maalik Murphy makes his first collegiate start. While Murphy has impressed in what little we have seen of him, there are plenty of unknowns about his game.

Let’s look at what experts are predicting for Saturday’s game between Texas and BYU.

Bold predictions for Saturday’s game between Texas and BYU

Maalik Murphy might have a better game than we expect.

We are nearly to Texas game day, and the Longhorns probably have one objective on their minds. Style points don’t matter. Texas simply needs to win.

Winning by any margin will do for now. The team is without starting quarterback Quinn Ewers and has entered the part of the season where many of its key players are less than 100%. The next few weeks will be less than comfortable for the program, but that’s the nature of playing without your starting quarterback.

Last week we predicted the team would score 50 points. That just doesn’t look like how the Longhorns are going to win games this season. Nevertheless, they have been counted on to win tough games.

Here’s a look at our bold predictions for Saturday’s game.

Texas HC Steve Sarkisian leans on his team’s culture amidst adversity

Sarkisian feels good about the culture he has built in Austin.

Steve Sarkisian has a established a strong culture since taking over as head coach of the Texas Longhorns. It’s a culture built on accountability, hard work, togetherness and discipline among other things. It appears that he feels it can carry the team through the next few weeks.

Sarkisian said the following of the culture of the program.

“I’m fired up about our culture. If there is one thing on our team right now that I lean into more than anything, it’s our culture.”

Culture itself isn’t going to make the plays necessary for Texas to win games. It will make those plays a lot easier to convert. Leaders have demanded more from teammates. It has brought a more focused product despite room for growth in the team’s week-to-week preparation.

Texas is more resilient and mature than it was last season. It looks like a team that is ready to raise its level of play with backup quarterback Maalik Murphy set to lead the team.

The Longhorns will face the BYU Cougars at 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC.

What an aggressive Texas offensive start could look like against BYU

Texas can open a conservative overall offensive game plan with an aggressive start.

The Texas Longhorns play their first game with presumed temporary starting quarterback Maalik Murphy on Saturday. The opportunity for Murphy is as uncertain as it is exciting for those looking to see what the blue chip quarterback can accomplish.

Murphy has a rocket arm and is skilled at many different throws. Nevertheless, it would be wise to lean on the running game in his first career college start. To do that, Texas might need to launch the ball downfield early to free up running opportunities.

You beat aggression with aggression. If BYU is smart, it will aim to disrupt the Texas offense with an attacking style of defense. Perhaps they won’t. What you can expect is the Cougars will try to shut down Longhorns running back Jonathon Brooks and the Texas running game.

It’s reasonable for BYU to assume its opponent will want to run the football this week to protect its backup. We could see the Cougars dare Maalik Murphy to beat them. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian should take that dare on the first drive and attack downfield on the first possession.

Murphy can throw the long ball. Should he connect on the first drive it could garner adequate respect for the Longhorns’ offensive weapons at receiver and open up the running game.

With only one loss this season, Texas simply wants to get off the field with its goals intact. The Longhorns should want to run the clock and run the ball. A fast start for Maalik Murphy could be the key to accomplishing that objective.