Texas is ranked No. 1 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time in program history. But the Longhorns are underdogs in Saturday’s season-opening showdown at defending national champion Ohio State.
The third-ranked Buckeyes opened as 3-point favorites, but sharp money on Texas has caused the consensus line to drop to 1½.
“There’s a lot of wiseguy action on the Longhorns,” Westgate vice president of race and sports John Murray said. “Right now, it’s all Texas, but I do think people will come back on Ohio State.”
The marquee matchup of college football Week 1 is a rematch of last season’s national semifinal game won by Ohio State, 28-14.
Texas-based handicapper Paul Stone likes the Longhorns to take some of the sting out of last season’s defeat to the Buckeyes.
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