Just days out from the Valero Alamo Bowl and the Texas Longhorns getting back on the football field. Their last game came on Dec. 5 against the Kansas State Wildcats. Following the 69-31 victory, Texas had an issue with COVID-19 positive cases that caused them to cancel their season finale with Kansas. It will have been 24 days since they took the field when they kick off their bowl game.
Now all focus shifts to the Colorado Buffaloes, a team the Longhorns haven’t played since 2009. In that matchup, It was the Jordan Shipley show, scoring one touchdown through the air from a Colt McCoy pass and another on a punt return. Texas as a whole has won the last five games against Colorado and lead the all-time series 11-7.
According to two ESPN analysts, buy stock in the Longhorns for this game. Former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback who won a National Championship in that 2009 season didn’t pull any punches when he gave Texas one of the highest confidence picks of bowl season. Texas received 26 in the confidence grade of a possible 28.
“When given the opportunity to pick against a Pac-12 team in the postseason, you do it,” McElroy said Monday during Bowl Mania. “With all due respect to Colorado, I’m not a believer in the Pac-12. From top to bottom this year, it was a league that was rather bothersome with the quality of play all over the place. I think Texas is angry and also fed up with the fact they had Oklahoma on the ropes earlier in the season. Now, Texas has obviously played well in bowl games under Tom Herman, but in order to try and thrust their way back into the conversation atop the Big 12 — which they usually are, wasn’t the case this year — they make a statement and dominate Colorado much like they did Utah last year.” per 247Sports
McElroy wasn’t the only one that thought of the Utah game from a season ago when making their picks for the game.
My worst bowl pick last year was Utah over Texas, as the Longhorns thoroughly dominated the Alamo Bowl. Colorado isn’t as good as Utah in 2019, but the Buffaloes will be extremely motivated after having three games canceled because of COVID-19 issues and Pac-12 ineptitude. Texas has had several key opt-outs, but quarterback Sam Ehlinger will be on the field for most likely his final game in burnt orange. Colorado’s backfield of Sam Noyer and Jarek Broussard will stress an improved Texas defense. Although I’m a bit concerned about the Longhorns’ motivation, it’s hard to go against the more talented team under Tom Herman (4-0 in bowls) playing close to home, especially after last year’s result.
Texas 37, Colorado 27– per ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg
*Editor’s Note: link requires paid ESPN+ subsription
The lastest odds have the Longhorns favored by 9.5.