Texas 2018 Betting Preview: Back Longhorns to Reach Big 12 Title Game

Texas 2018 Betting Odds

• To win the National Title: +5000
• To win the Big 12: +325
• To reach Big 12 title: +142
• To make Playoff: Yes +650, No -1175
• To make NY6 Bowl: Yes +200, No -280
• Win Total: 8.5 (over -135, under +115)

Always shop for the best line.

Texas 2018 Schedule, Betting Odds

The Action Network Projected Wins: 7.9

Bet To Watch

Texas to make Big 12 championship game +142

You're up $500 at blackjack and walking out of the casino with money in your pocket. You found a hot shoe, doubled down against 5 and 6 and hit 16 against a face card like a boss. This is the way I feel when betting on Texas Longhorns football and cashing winning tickets over the past decade. Sadly, there are still no casinos in the state of Texas.

Texas has covered the Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma every year since 2013, winning straight-up as a dog twice. As a college football bettor, you should know this is an autoplay, and the game of the year numbers at South Point in Las Vegas reflected that. Longhorns +12 was quickly moved to Longhorns +6 after opening.

>> Follow Collin Wilson in The Action Network App to get free alerts on all his college football bets during the season.

History is one part of that move. Expectations for Texas in 2018 are another. It ranks 55th in overall returning production and returns a lot on offense, but is still lacking a proven star. The Longhorns will have loads of depth on defense in every unit, too. They just need quarterback Sam Ehlinger to improve the team's 106th ranking in offensive efficiency — he hasn't officially been named the starter, but is favored to get the nod over Shane Buechele after they competed for the job all last season.

The hire of Herb Hand as offensive line coach did not go unnoticed in the gambling world, either, and this finally may be THE season that Texas puts it together and wins double-digit games again.

While Maryland will be an interesting road test to start the season, the Longhorns will leave the state of Texas only three times after that (Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Kansas). The talent is as high as ever, the coaching staff is highly regarded and the schedule is very conducive to a Big 12 championship run. There are props on making the Big 12 title game, and Texas at +142 deserves a wager. The Longhorns could be underdogs only twice in 2018, according to The Action Network's projections.

What else you need to know about Texas

Texas held a fourth-quarter lead against USC last year. The Trojans rank 115th in returning production and will still be figuring out life beyond Sam Darnold when these teams meet on Sept. 15. The Longhorns will be looking for revenge with some home cooking in Austin. Take Texas -4.

More College Football Betting Previews

Click here for team previews on all 130 FBS schools.