With all due respect for the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros, the sports season officially opens for residents of the Lone Star State this weekend when the 2006 College Football season gets underway'and so does college football betting.
Could there be a better name for the new starting quarterback of the Texas Longhorns then Colt McCoy? After winning their first National Championship in 35 years, Coach Mack Brown waved goodbye to MVP Vince Young and now places the ball in the hands of a red shirt freshman!
The Longhorns are favored by 41 at home to North Texas who is trying to bounce back from a dreadful season in the Sun Belt Conference. If you believe that number, you'd better place a fat wager at your favorite sportsbook.com.
Meanwhile Mike Leach at Texas Tech in Lubbock will have a new gunslinger in Graham Harrell who will pile up the air miles. They open against in state SMU and are favored by a whopping 26 points. Be careful laying the wood here as SMA beat Houston and UTEP late last year. Sports betting, after all, is a gamble of sorts.
The Houston Cougars should be ready to roll this year for Art Briles and they head across town to compete with the Rice Owls, who will unveil a new coach. The Cougars are favored by 13 ? and are stout on both sides of the ball.
Over in Waco, Texas the Baylor Bears will look to ambush a much publicized TCU team that has played lights out the past few seasons for Gary Patterson. Baylor has a great coach in Guy Morris and they are getting + 7 at home and I love this play.
The UTEP Miners travel to San Diego to face the rebuilding Aztecs and are 16-8 in two seasons under Mike Price. Starting linebacker Emeri Spence and senior tight end Casey Mauch have been suspended for the season opener, Aug. 31 at San Diego State.
While the Miners have plenty of depth at tight end, Spence was expected to replace the departed Thomas Howard at strong side linebacker after a strong spring. Senior Josh Chamois will most likely start at San Diego State.
San Diego State raided the Oklahoma Sooners coaching ranks and plucked Chuck Long as their assistant so they'll be better. At least the bookies seem to think so as they have installed them as -1 favorite against a very talented team!
Happy wagering Texas fans! I mean, this is the very reason online sports betting exists.
Bob Acton is an experienced sports writer and handicapper, who has written for the sports industry for over 10 years. His years of writing for Sports Scene, sports consulting on 33 Made for Television and Major Motion Pictures and his work as an instructor at Pro Teach Baseball Academy, have made Bob a trusted and respected source in the sports world.
