Texas vs. BYU odds: Early point spread released on Longhorns, Cougars

In a one-off Big 12 showdown, Texas hosts BYU on Saturday at Darrell K. Royal Stadium. And unsurprisingly, the one-loss Longhorns are home favorites over the Cougars.

Texas opened as a 20.5-point favorite over BYU, according to FanDuel. The over/under is set at 50.5.

It will be the first and likely only meeting between the two teams as members of the Big 12 Conference. BYU is in its first season as a league member and Texas is in its last, heading to the SEC ahead of the 2024 season.

BYU travels to Texas fresh off a win over a team from Texas, a 27-14 win over Texas Tech in which the Cougars were actually outgained by more than 100 yards. It didn’t matter, as a turnover-happy Red Raiders passing attack netted the Cougars three interceptions. Two more fumbles lost by Texas Tech gave BYU all the window it needed to get out to a big lead and hold on to it.

Quarterback Kedon Slovis was solid, completing 15-of-27 passes for 127 yards and two scores and the Cougars capitalized on short fields. They also finished with 150 rushing yards.

Texas, on the other hand, was thoroughly tested on the road at Houston on Saturday in another Big 12 one-off.

The Longhorns held on for a 31-24 win, stopping Houston’s potential game-tying drive in the final minutes. The biggest question for the Longhorns, though, is the health of quarterback Quinn Ewers, who exited the game and didn’t return. He finished going 23-for-29 passing for 211 yards and two touchdowns.

If Ewers can’t play on Saturday, the Longhorns would likely start Maalik Murphy in his place. Murphy and Ryan Sanborn both spelled Ewers on Saturday, combining to go 2-for-3 for eight yards passing. Suffice to say the Longhorns will be best with Ewers on the field.

BYU and Texas have played five times before and BYU holds a 4-1 series lead, including winning the last two matchups, in 2013 and 2014.

BYU won the 2014 matchup, 41-7, in Austin behind a sterling performance from one Taysom Hill. Hill went for 280 total yards and three touchdowns as BYU routed the Longhorns that day. It’s a day many Texas fans won’t have forgotten, and one they’ll hope to pay back and then some on Saturday.

And while BYU surely won’t go quietly, the oddsmakers are big fans of the Longhorns to get the win.