The seventh-ranked Texas Longhorns (8-1, 5-1) have won three straight games and have scored 30 or more points in nine consecutive contests as they visit last year's National Championship finalist TCU (4-5, 2-4) on Saturday in a Big 12 showdown at 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC). Entering this weekend, Texas is among six schools that have identical 8-1 records, including No. 6 Oregon, No. 8 Alabama, No. 9 Mississippi, No. 10 Penn State, and No. 11 Louisville.
In other words, they are very much alive for one of the final four playoff spots when Selection Sunday arrives on Dec. 3 at noon ET (ESPN), but how does this team rank over other Longhorns’ teams over the past 10 years? Right off the bat, last week’s No. 7 College Football ranking was their first highest ranking and the first Top-10 appearance in program history, and their 8-1 start in the best for the school since 2009. You can imagine how popular this team would be in Texas sports betting circles if it were live right now.
Next Win Can Reflect Last Title Season
A win Saturday night will give Texas nine victories and that would be the most wins since a 10-4 record in 2018, when they upended Georgia, 28-21, in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, 2019. The Longhorns also recorded a 9-4 record in 2012. Two more wins will give Texas a double-digit win total for just the second time since 2018 and the third time since 2009, when they completed a nine-season stint with 10 victories or more.
Texas won a national title in 2013 with a 13-0 record and were Rose Bowl upset winners over USC, 38-37, behind the play of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Vince Young. The school’s last three bowl appearances (2022, 2020, 2019) have been to the Alamo Bowl, a place that are hoping they don’t have to go to visit again this season.
BetMGM Sportsbook vs. TCU, Future Markets
As of Friday afternoon, Texas is a 12.5-point and -500 moneyline favorite over TCU (+360) with the game's over/under total at 55 points. Over on the futures market, Texas is currently listed at +1600 to win the National Championship, +220 to make the College Football Playoff and is the favorite at -200 to win the Big 12 Conference title. Texas sportsbook apps are not yet available, so these are based on national odds.
