Longtime Sporting News college football insider Bill Bender has put his Week 2 picks against the spread on the record, and his gut for Texas' trip to Michigan may not thrill Longhorn fans.
Coming off an absolutely dominant 52-0 Week 1 victory against Colorado State, the Longhorns have been very trendy picks to cover a spread of more than a touchdown against the defending national champions. That's a bit too rich for Bender's blood, as he laid out in his weekly predictions column:
Ewers had a 70.5% completion percentage on the road last season, and if he avoids the turnovers Texas will keep Michigan at arm's length. The Wolverines will make it interesting, but in games like this you trust the proven quarterback. Keep in mind that Texas is 1-4 against top-10 teams under Sarkisian, but that victory at Alabama is all anybody remembers.
Pick: Texas wins 27-22 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
Yikes! A one-possession victory is probably a bit closer than many Texas fans were expecting leaving Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium on Saturday evening, but it's surely one they'd happily accept.
Many of the bettors in Las Vegas (a vast majority of whom have allegedly been placing bets on Texas to cover)? Not so much.
