Texas Shootout | NCAA College Football handicappers

It feels like we've been here before. While the Texas Longhorns have never been a team # 1 against a team of Texas Tech 10, seems every year the Horns have entered a Tech game undefeated, the whispers have begun. "Maybe this is the year upset Texas Tech and spoil their season. "The more things change the more they remain the same.

After running through a gauntlet of # 1 Oklahoma Missouri and # 11 # 6 Oklahoma State, the chattering class seems to think that there is no possible way the Horns have enough fight left in them to resist the offensive assault Mike Leach's Red Raiders. Not this year, not the Longhorns young secondary. But is there really no hard evidence to suggest that the Raiders have the number Longhorns this season?

Should not it amazing test just passed the Longhorns in their previous game shows how good are they? How long beating three top 10 (ish) teams in a row means that you are prepared for a surprise? You can not just be a really good team? Is it just a matter of we had to find some sort of plot of imperative to do so, your game 3 presented by ESPN College GameDay for the last four weeks?

But could really is different this year? The Horns have All-American corner as it has in the past. Tech is learning to run the ball a bit and really seem to care about to play on the defensive. But is not that the argument just put lipstick on a pig?

There is no argument that Graham Harrell has culled by the Horns air the last two years, throwing for almost a thousand meters and complete 70% of his passes. However, if not enough in 2006 and 2007, why would that be enough now? Some think they can have a big day even more (night) on Saturday in Lubbock, taking into account the Horns will be running out two defensive backs they are so behind the ears to their helmets, even look brighter. But Deon Beasley and Curtis Brown maintains all OSU receiver Dez Bryant in the world less than a hundred yards last week, and even smell the end zone. Michael Crabtree is as good as Bryant, no doubt, but what makes people think you can double or triple the production of Bryant?

I think a lot of love for Tech comes simply from its results last week. The Raiders do not beat anyone every year until it over Kansas in a big way this weekend, but that was not really indicative of the game score. Todd Reesing threw three interceptions in the span of a few minutes, get to the final a foregone conclusion. And Texas had been able to punch the ball in the 4th and final goal, which would have won by double digits against a team OSU good, and people probably would think that the Longhorns were unstoppable. The greatness is in the eye of the beholder.

While Tech has done a better job pressure the quarterback and playing man coverage, have not found anyone in the level of Colt McCoy. They do not get gift wrapped interceptions of Heisman lead. If they do, then this game probably will fall to Tech But again, what makes us think we will see nothing different this week we have seen throughout the season, or last decade?

Over the past three weeks, against the brutal schedule, McCoy averaged 335 yards in the air and completed 85 percent of its passes, moving to second place in the nation in passing efficiency. And during that time has only thrown one interception. And I can say that the Tech defense is not close OU level, McCoy carved pieces. Offensive coordinator Greg Davis is running four receiver sets, spreading the field and the use of slashing routes by the center. The Texas passing game still is not vertical, but gone are the days of 10 wide receiver screens in the middle.

The Horns have appeared incredible defense, under the leadership of Will Muschamp crazed fan, but fell a little in the department for the fight against the Cowboys, giving extra 125 yards after missed tackles last week. But that slip-up could not have come at a better time. You can bet your house on the fact that Muschamp has been training his boys throughout the week, getting in his face, letting them know their failures against OSU. He knows how to relate to players, and you can guarantee that it will intensify try to make their coach proud.

The Raiders are as good as they have ever done. But so are the Longhorns. While it seems sexy to take the Raiders in a alteration in the biggest game in school history, my feeling is that not bet against the best until they have proven to be the best.

Top 10 College Football Plays 2009 Season

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