The top-ranked Texas Longhorns are set to face the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Texas boasts a perfect 3-0 record, including 2-0 at home, while UL Monroe enters with a 2-0 record, bouncing back from a tough 2-10 season last year. Redshirt freshman Arch Manning will make his debut as the starting quarterback, replacing Quinn Ewers, who is sidelined with an abdominal injury. This marks the first time Texas has achieved the No. 1 ranking in the AP Poll since 2008.
Initially favored by 48 points, the Longhorns are now leading by 43.5 points according to the latest odds, with the over/under set at 54 points after opening at 52.5. For those considering betting on the Texas vs. UL Monroe matchup, insights from a predictive model at SportsLine can provide valuable information.
The model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times, having produced over $2,000 in profit for $100 bettors on its top-rated picks against the spread. Following a successful 13-9 season last year on these picks, and starting strong this season with a 5-2 record on over/under, it has delivered solid returns for its followers.
The model has focused on the upcoming UL Monroe vs. Texas game, offering betting lines on the spread and total points for the matchup.
Reasons Texas can cover the spread include their impressive performance across all games, where they have consistently won and covered the spread. With Georgia’s recent struggles, Texas capitalized and moved up in the rankings. The absence of star quarterback Ewers is typically a setback, but Manning, a highly regarded backup, stepped up last week with an impressive showing, completing 9 of 12 passes for 223 yards and four touchdowns, in addition to rushing for a touchdown.
On the other hand, UL Monroe has started strong, winning both of their opening games against Jackson State and UAB, both times covering the spread. Quarterback General Booty, a transfer from Oklahoma, has been effective, completing 19 of 30 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown this season. Additionally, the combination of running backs Ahmad Hardy and James Jones has accumulated nearly 300 rushing yards, which might help maintain control of the game.
The model suggests leaning towards the over and indicates that one side of the spread has a success rate exceeding 50%. For those interested in making informed decisions, further details and picks can be found on SportsLine.