Texas Longhorns Football 2011 Preview, Predictions, Picks, Odds | Sportsbookbuzz.com

Texas Longhorns Football 2011 Preview, Predictions, Picks, Odds

As the 2011 NCAA Football Season approaches, we are providing season previews for every college football teams to give you the betting edge. Follow the best College Football Handicappers as they analyze their teams in this 2011 season preview. Be sure to bookmark SportsbookBuzz.com your source for Sportsbook Reviews. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the College Football in our recommend sportsbooks.View the rest of our 2011 NCAA Football Season Previews here.

2010 Record: 5-7 Big 12 Record: 2-6 (6th, South) 2011 Returning Starters: 14; 5 offense, 7 defense, kicker, punter

Coach: Mack Brown, 133–34

Offensive Coordinators: Bryan Harsin & Major Applewhite Defensive Coordinators: Manny Diaz

2011 Texas Players to Watch: RB Fozzy Whittaker, RB Cody Johnson, WR Mike Davis, C David Snow, DE Alex Okafor, DE Jackson Jeffcoat, LB Emmanuel Acho, LB Keenan Robinson

2011 Texas Strengths:
With Texas’ deep pockets, Brown did a solid Job of overhauling his coaching staff on the fly. Chemistry and leadership has to be better than last season. The defense possesses building blocks for another top 10 unit. Texas could win two to three more games lust by correcting a minus-12 tumover deficit.

2011 Texas Weaknesses:
Few offensive playmakers emerged last season, a radical change from the past decade. Texas could tread water if it fails to get productive quarterback play. For asuccessful season, sophomores and even true freshmen must deliver in abig way at key positions.

2011 Texas Offense:

The lack of leadership, playmaking and game-planning on offense in 2010 were huge contributors to the Longhorns’ shocking 5–7 record. The aftermath of Mack Brown’s first losing season as a head coach since 1989 saw him replace five assistant coaches, including 13-year offensive coordinator Greg Davis. Now running the attack is Bryan Harsin, 34, formerly at Boise State, and co-offensive coordinator Major Applewhite, 33, UT’s running backs coach. Harsin’s offense is full of motion and shifting and unbalanced lines, unlike Davis’, which kept things simple. Until Texas can get its quarterback situation figured out, no one knows how good the offense can be. Most assumed when quarterback Garrett Gilbert signed with Texas in 2009 as the Gatorade National Player of the Year the Longhorns had found the heir to Vince Young and Colt McCoy. But Gilbert struggled mightily last year, throwing 10 touchdown passes and 17 interceptions, including five in a 39–14 loss at Kansas State. This spring Gilbert found himself in a four-way battle to keep his job with Connor Wood, Case McCoy (younger brother of Colt McCoy) and early enrollee freshman David Ash. Sophomore Mike Davis, the team’s top returning receiver, appears to be the next big thing at wideout. But the search for playmakers elsewhere on offense continues. Fifth-year senior running backs Fozzy Whittaker and Cody Johnson figure to be pushed by freshman Malcolm Brown, one of the top recruits in the country. The offensive line, one of the team’s biggest weaknesses in 2010, has to find three new starters and will do so under new position coach Stacy Searels, who had the same job at Georgia the past four years.

2011 Texas Defense:

The strength of the Longhorns will once again be the defense. New coordinator Manny Diaz, 37 who came from Mississippi State to replace former coach-in-waiting Will Muschamp, now the head coach at Florida is excited about his linebackers, led by seniors Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho, the team’s top two tacklers in 2010. Sophomore outside linebacker Jordan Hicks is a star on the rise. Texas is loaded at safety with hard-hitting junior Kenny Vaccaro and four-year starter Blake Gideon. Pass-rushing ends Sam Acho and Eddie Jones have to be replaced. Jackson Jeffcoat, the son of former NFL sack artist Jim Jeffcoat, and Alex Okafor, both 5-star recruits in 2010, will get the first shot. Senior Kheeston Randall is a proven commodity at tackle.

2011 Texas Special Teams:

Senior kicker Justin Tucker was just fine last season. He made 23 of 27 field goal attempts and also averaged 41.2 yards as a rugby-style punter. Seventeen of his punts were downed inside the 20. Brown wants more production from the return and kick-block teams, a historical strength. Texas generated seven touchdowns from returns and blocks in 2009, and none last season.

2011 Texas Football Schedule | Texas Football Sportsbooks

2011 Texas Predictions:

Brown’s string of nine consecutive 10-win seasons before 2010 were a big reason ESPN signed on to launch the Longhorn Network for $300 million over 20 years. Now, the network launches this fall as Brown is trying to pick his program up off the deck. No one knows how quickly Texas can bounce back in 2011, but ESPN will be there to document every second.

2011 Texas Betting Odds:

Texas Current odds to win a National Championship: +3000

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NCAA Football Handicapping Picks

Check out our weekly Sports Handicapping Picks from the world’s best handicappers. Trust our handicapping experts offering premium and free NCAA Football Picks and packages daily. Also stay up to date with weekly College Football Matchups, and buy some picks to win some BIG cash this football season at our recommended sportsbooks.

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