Football is in the air, folks. After its first 10-win season in over a decade, Texas looks to keep the momentum going in 2019, starting with a season opener against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. The Bulldogs are not a team that Texas is going to look over prior to its Week 2 bout with LSU. However, Louisiana Tech has not done itself any favor this offseason in anticipation for the matchup with Texas. First, Terry Bradshaw made some remarks about Texas QB Sam Ehlinger. Then, LA Tech DB L’Jarius Sneed made some negative comments about the Texas WR corps. All in all, the Longhorns have plenty of bulletin board material to be fired up about Saturday’s opener. Let’s see how the HornSports staff predicts the outcome of the matchup:
Aaron Carrara
Texas has a dinged up running back corps and Tom Herman is 0-2 in season openers at Texas, yet Texas is favored by more than 20 points against Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs aren’t a pushover team that Texas is looking past, and Tom Herman knows how fast football games can turn on a dime – especially the ones you are supposed to win. Season-openers contain rust for both teams involved, but what’s important to watch is which team knocks it off first. With an experienced quarterback in Sam Ehlinger and a healthy set of wide receivers paired with a solid offensive line, I expect the Longhorns to pick back up where they left off after leaving New Orleans in January. The Bulldogs have a solid cadre of offensive players that can put points on the board, which will require the Texas defense to set the tone early on in the game. Texas wins this week and begins the season 1-0.
Prediction: Texas 34, LA Tech 17
Jameson McCausland
This will be an interesting matchup for Texas. Louisiana Tech is coming off an 8-win season and returns some solid weapons on offense. The line in Vegas for the game is currently sitting at Texas -20.5, meaning many expect the Bulldogs to be able to hang around. As was pointed out in my scouting report, Louisiana Tech gave LSU a scare last year in Baton Rouge. I expect a good amount of points to be scored, but it’s hard to envision a scenario where Texas loses this game unless they turn the ball over 3 or 4 times and completely fall apart defensively. I believe the Longhorns will get a solid win and quickly turn their attention to what is coming to Austin next weekend.
Prediction: Texas 42, Louisiana Tech 21
Nick Harris
Football is back and so is the vengeance of Sam Ehlinger. For some reason that I am still unaware of to this day, there are STILL critics of Ehlinger and his reliability at the quarterback position for Texas. It’s truly blasphemous. One of those very outspoken critics is Louisiana Tech grad, Terry Bradshaw. At a press conference at the end of June, Bradshaw said that Ehlinger “ain’t that good” and that when quarterbacks like Ehlinger get to Texas they all of a sudden “can’t throw the football.” My prediction: vengeance and an apology from Bradshaw next week after Ehlinger accounts for five total touchdowns.
Prediction: Texas 55, Louisiana Tech 13
Andrew Miller
Louisiana Tech will test the Texas secondary early. Adrian Hardy is the real deal, but the Bulldogs won’t be able to handle the Longhorns at the skill positions. Keaontay Ingram and Collin Johnson will push Texas to a convincing win.
Prediction: Texas 42, Louisiana Tech 21
