Did the Longhorns’ First Round win change anything?
The Texas Longhorns advanced to the College Football Playoff quarter-finals, where they’ll face Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. Is this matchup better for the Horns than the previous first-round matchup against the Clemson Tigers?
Daniel Seahorn (@DanielSeahorn) – I think it is strictly based on the fact that Arizona State is down one of their best playmakers and won’t be able to threaten Texas through the air like Clemson was able to. Cam Skattebo is a damn good player and deserves plenty of respect, but he and Sam Leavitt are going to have to shoulder a heavy load and pick up more of the slack with Jordyn Tyson out. On top of that, ASU is not great at pressuring the passer defensively and we all know that if you can’t pressure Quinn Ewers then it can snowball on you quickly.
Gerald Goodridge (@ghgoodridge) – I think so. This is an offense that works primarily through its running game and is also missing its top receiver. I think the Texas defense is going to be head and shoulders better than any they’ve seen thus far this year and Pete Kwiatkowski’s best asset as a defensive coordinator is his ability to highlight what an opponent wants to do and scheme it out of the game. While I think Cam Skattebo is too good to completely shut down, I think the Texas defense is going to have a great day.
Cameron Parker (@camerondparker) – Yes. No offense to Sam Leavitt, but he is not Cade Klubnik. The Texas defense has not seen a running back like Cam Skattebo this season, but I’m more confident in Texas stopping the run than I am in them stopping the pass. Without Jordyn Tyson, ASU is a one-man offense and Pete Kwiatkowski is a wrecking crew.
Jacob Neidig (@jneidig_2) – Yes. No Dabo or Klubnik along with a truly terrible pass defense bodes well for Texas. Arizona State likes to bring their safeties into the box to stop the run more than Clemson did. I think this gives Ewers and the WRs the chance to blow the top off the defense.
True or False: Texas’ struggles in the 3rd Quarter will cost them at some point in the College Football Playoff.
Daniel – True. Especially as the competition continues to get tougher as they move forward. You can’t keep conceding goose eggs in third quarter offensively and hoping your defense will keep bailing you out.
Gerald – True. I am not sure when, but it will. If Texas makes it through this game, they’ll have to play Ohio State or Oregon and both of those teams can move the ball incredibly well. Taking a possession or two off will bite you against them, so taking a whole quarter off would be a disaster.
Cameron – True. I don’t think it will hurt them against Arizona State but if the Longhorns advance to the semifinals, I think it’ll catch up to them against a high-powered offense like Ohio State or Oregon.
Jacob – True. This is the last game where Texas could potentially get away with anything below an A game. An entire quarter of mishaps and failed production drops well below an A and what’s needed to win.
Did the Longhorns’s win over Clemson change your predictions for the College Football Playoff?
Daniel – Nope. I liked the draw for Texas through the first two rounds and that hasn’t changed for me. If they take care of business then things really get interesting in the semis where they will likely draw the best team left in the tournament in the Cotton Bowl. I think the winner of a Texas Ohio State/Oregon matchup is your national champion.
Gerald – No. That win was a part of my prediction. I think that Texas had the best draw it possibly could have taking on Clemson and Arizona State in the first two rounds. I had Texas to the semis against Oregon, so we’re still on track for that.
Cameron – No, my prediction is Oregon over Georgia and Cade Klubnik’s ability to find success against the Texas secondary reinforced my pick.
Jacob – No. Texas once again demonstrated its ability to win in a variety of ways. I still like Texas against the Sun Devils and beyond.
Texas is favored by 12.5 points over Arizona State. Who wins and what is your score prediction?
Daniel (13-2/5-9 ATS) – I’ve got Texas moving on, but out of respect for Dilly and his bunch I will say it will be a little closer than we expect. Texas 28, Arizona State 18.
Gerald (12-2/7-6 ATS) – I think that Cam Skattebo is too talented for Texas to completely put a lid on and I would be shocked if Texas didn’t turn the ball over at least once – Arizona State is a group of ball hawks in the secondary. Despite that, I think Texas will win relatively comfortably. Texas 35, Arizona State 21.
Cameron (13-1/6-8 ATS) – I believe Texas will dominate Arizona State on both sides of the line of scrimmage and the return of Isaiah Bond will open up the passing attack for Quinn Ewers. Texas 42, Arizona State 17
Jacob (13-1/7-7 ATS) – I think this game starts ugly but quickly explodes into a comfy Texas lead. I like Texas in the trenches and think the ability for the Longhorns to run the ball could be a key influence in the tone of the game. Texas: 31, Arizona State: 17