[Tommy]

It is not often the hype actually matches the event; however that is exactly what happened last year when Texas traveled to Ohio State in what was a true championship atmosphere. Now Part Two of this home and home series heads to the Lone Star State for the much anticipated rematch.

Ohio State started the season as the #1 team in the polls that was based on the fact they return a bushel full of offensive talent led by quarterback Troy Smith. Texas came in ranked 3rd and has now risen to #2 after Notre Dame’s so-so effort against Georgia Tech. Mack Brown’s Longhorns have 16 beefy Texas sized starters back, with several studs on each side of the pigskin.

Texas is a 2.5-point favorite, but in truth, there are not many major edges to choose from in this superior match-up. The Longhorns’ lone weakness over time is that they are 3-18 ATS in non-conference games when favored by less then double digits. Otherwise, Mack Brown’s squad is 8-1 ATS after out-gaining opposition by 175 or more total yards in their previous game. Ohio State is no slouch with 9-2 ATS mark after 1 or more consecutive straight up wins and 12-3 ATS after a game where they forced 1 or less turnovers. The best play of this dandy might be the Total, since Texas has gone OVER the Total in their last 15 games.

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