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Thirty-one wins and thirty-two loses represent a not-so-Texas like five year period since the 2013 football season in Austin.\u00a0 Charlie Strong was to take the program and give it the uplifting it needed. He failed. The new cattle drover Tom Herman came in last summer and produced a winning season with seven victories in thirteen starts, getting the Longhorns into their first up season since that 2013 year with a nice bowl win over Missouri in the Texas Bowl.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n High expectations are again the think tank of the day in\u00a0the\u00a0runways of Darrell K. Royal\u00a0Stadium\u00a0and UT hopes that 2019 brings them to a Big Twelve Championship game where they believe another win the conference.\u00a0 Sports fans, it could happen this year and Texas has enough players o take that big step with some good on-the-field play.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n West Virginia and Oklahoma could be the two Big Twelve teams in the end that might keep the Horns out of the title game, but give Coach\u00a0Herman his due as his defense\u00a0will be\u00a0one of the best groups in the conference.\u00a0 Texas has to use that defense to hold opponents down, as the offense will get better but are not a complete top of the line group right now.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Opening with four home games, UT\u00a0needs\u00a0to\u00a0maneuver that third of the season with four wins. Yet the Trojans of USC in game three will be a pick-em and the following Saturday against the Toads of TCU will be a game Texas can say thank you to the Big Twelve for playing it in DKR.\u00a0 UT can show that Herman has made significant progress in the building of the program with these two games and both\u00a0USC and TCU games\u00a0will be knock down slugfests.\u00a0 \u00a0UT needs both wins badly make this season significant into the middle schedule of games.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Road games to Kansas State and Oklahoma State are two trips that are must wins for the Horns to make a run for 1st or 2nd and the Championship game. They too are winnable.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Red River Rivalry game as always, can be won by either team, and a prediction would just be based on fandom.\u00a0 That game is again one that will be decided on factors that you just cannot know today.\u00a0 But Texas needs that game to keep their goals alive.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n UT should take their home meeting with Baylor and\u00a0road\u00a0trips to Lubbock\u00a0with Texas Tech and Lawrence with\u00a0Kansas .\u00a0\u00a0Wins all three.\u00a0\u00a0But the best West Virginia team in a long while comes to Austin and that game could be the deciding one that picks who play OU in Arlington.\u00a0 A key game for both.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The home game with Iowa State in the next to last week of the season will not be a cake walk and UT has to avoid what most teams do not, losing a game that should be won.\u00a0Sure ISU is on the uptake, but\u00a0Texas has better players than Iowa State.\u00a0\u00a0The coaching in this one should be a wash.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The season schedule is very tough for the Horns in 2018 and improvement can be make and not be reflected on the final record.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Looking at personnel, Herman needs to find his one quarterback that can be counted on for a complete season.\u00a0\u00a0Sam Ehlinger is a tough cookie that will start as the man.\u00a0 Shane\u00a0Buechele\u00a0will continue to push at the position and Cameron Rising\u00a0has talent as a freshman\u00a0Another season of quarterback rotation, either of need of play or injury, will not be good. The rushing game has to improve\u00a0(3.6yds per rush last year) and currently UT is average at running back and offensive line. The pass catchers are average as a group but Collin Johnson is very good and a threat.\u00a0 The offensive line is big but not great. Time and experience will not hurt them.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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