Inside Texas Pressbox - Week 5 (Kansas)
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Texas vs Kansas. (Will Gallagher/IT)[/caption]
The staff at Inside Texas does our best to predict the Texas - Kansas matchup, plus give you an upset pick of the week worthy of a Las Vegas call. It's Week 5 from Lawrence as Big 12 play kicks off in the IT Pressbox.
1) Texas - Kansas score/outcome:
Eric Nahlin: Texas 28, Kansas 13. But I don't think this one is ever in doubt. Disparity in athletes means on the few occasions Texas isn't sound it doesn't hurt as much as when they play the UCLA's and BYU's. Swoopes is getting better by the week and I expect him to play with great poise and confidence. O-line should show improvement since playing UCLA in Jerry World. If it doesn't, it portends bad things for the season, imo.
Justin Wells: Texas 24, Kansas 20. It's close on Homecoming for the most part, but the Texas D-line wears down KU's interior, forcing late turnovers and a Swoopes rushing score seals it.
Jesus Shuttlesworth: Texas 38, Kansas 10.
Ian Boyd: Texas 28, Kansas 16.
Bill Frisbie: Texas 31, Kansas 16. Texas would be in Year 2 of the Charlie Strong era if not for the last-minute TD the last time the Horns went to Kansas. The biggest question, now, may be whether offensively-challenged Texas can score 30 points -- even against perennial Big 12 cellar-dweller Kansas. The burnt orange crystal ball says 'barely'.
Mike Blackwell: Texas 31, Kansas 14
Sean Adams: Texas 42, Kansas 9.
Michael Pearle: Texas 28, Kansas 10. The offense keeps improving and the defense has some fun. The Horns get a win that feels pretty good after the last two games, terrible opposition notwithstanding.
Clendon Ross: Texas 27, Kansas 17. That outcome is assuming continued progression from Tyrone Swoopes and the OL. I believe it will happen with two more weeks of practice under their belts. What scares you to death (sorry, had to do it) is any type of regression or simply an off day from the offense. Turnovers in particular could make this game a nail biter, especially given this defense's recent penchant for 2nd half breakdowns. The Horns have taken much better teams to Lawrence and just narrowly escaped, so this is no gimme, but it's certainly one Texas should and must win.
2) How many TDs does Swoopes account for, rush/pass:
Eric Nahlin: Three. 2 passing, 1 rushing. I'll even say he connects on a deep TD (over 50 yards).
Justin Wells: Two; 1 passing, 1 rushing. He'll have 300+ total yards. KU is the rare defense he'll see - maybe Texas Tech too - that his abilities should lead to gross stats.
Jesus Shuttlesworth: Three. 1 passing, 1 rushing, 1 receiving.
Ian Boyd: Two.
Bill Frisbie: Two passing TDs; zero rushing (Bad things happen when Texas QBs attempt goal-line sneaks in the Sunflower state).
Mike Blackwell: Two.
Sean Adams: Three total.
Michael Pearle: Two, both passing.
Clendon Ross: Two. Swoopes accounts for two of UT's three TDs and they both come through the air - one to John Harris, one to MJ McFarland, and Malcolm Brown gets the third TD on the ground.
3) Does Texas get a 100-yard rushing game from someone?________
Eric Nahlin: I'll say no but predict Gray and Brown each go over 75.
Justin Wells: No. Unless Brown or Gray break a long run, just not likely with this stable and OL. Catalon will be a 100-yard per game guy in the future, but not this Saturday.
Jesus Shuttlesworth: Yes, MB2L goes past 125+.
Ian Boyd: Nope, split carries between Brown and Gray hold both below 100.
Bill Frisbie: Yes. If not this weekend, then it may not happen in 2014.
Mike Blackwell: Yes, Malcolm Brown
Sean Adams: Yes, Malcolm Brown.
Michael Pearle: Yes, J-Gray will get out in space a couple times and eclipse the century mark.
Clendon Ross: No 100-yard rusher for the Horns. The carries are too spread out between Swoopes, Brown, and Gray (and maybe even Catalon finally).
4) Does Strong dismiss anyone else before 3:30pm (CT) kickoff in Lawrence?______
Eric Nahlin: Imagine what would happen on the board if I said 'yes' here, Justin.
Justin Wells: (cringes at Eric's answer)
Jesus Shuttlesworth: No.
Ian Boyd: No
Bill Frisbie: I think the team has got the memo by now, but I'd check to see if Justin Blaylock has any eligibility left.
Mike Blackwell: Nope, he's done for the year.
Sean Adams: No
Michael Pearle: I don’t know, but if I was big Des Harrison I would be keeping my eye on the Megabus schedules.
Clendon Ross: No dismissals for Charlie Strong before kickoff barring another coin flip fiasco.
5) Upset of the week:
Eric Nahlin: I'm assuming the rest of the panel will pick the same game. Because hope is a hell of a drug, Arkansas runs enough on A&M to keep the Swagcopter grounded. I'm kind of thinking Washington over Stanford as well.
Justin Wells: Iowa State over Baylor
Jesus Shuttlesworth: Arky over Aggie
Ian Boyd: I'm seeing one of these overrated SEC teams going down. I'll take Missouri over South Carolina.
Bill Frisbie: Yours truly correctly picked not one, but two, upsets during our last Pressbox. This week, I'll take Missouri over South Carolina. I'll also take Iowa State covering the 22-points at home against Baylor. Wouldn't be surprised to see Arkansas give the Aggies a scare at Jerry World.
Mike Blackwell: Texas State over Tulsa
Sean Adams: Mizzou over USC
Michael Pearle: Arkansas over A&M. A man can dream, can’t he??
Clendon Ross: Illinois over Nebraska
Texas vs Kansas. (Will Gallagher/IT)[/caption]
The staff at Inside Texas does our best to predict the Texas - Kansas matchup, plus give you an upset pick of the week worthy of a Las Vegas call. It's Week 5 from Lawrence as Big 12 play kicks off in the IT Pressbox.
1) Texas - Kansas score/outcome:
Eric Nahlin: Texas 28, Kansas 13. But I don't think this one is ever in doubt. Disparity in athletes means on the few occasions Texas isn't sound it doesn't hurt as much as when they play the UCLA's and BYU's. Swoopes is getting better by the week and I expect him to play with great poise and confidence. O-line should show improvement since playing UCLA in Jerry World. If it doesn't, it portends bad things for the season, imo.
Justin Wells: Texas 24, Kansas 20. It's close on Homecoming for the most part, but the Texas D-line wears down KU's interior, forcing late turnovers and a Swoopes rushing score seals it.
Jesus Shuttlesworth: Texas 38, Kansas 10.
Ian Boyd: Texas 28, Kansas 16.
Bill Frisbie: Texas 31, Kansas 16. Texas would be in Year 2 of the Charlie Strong era if not for the last-minute TD the last time the Horns went to Kansas. The biggest question, now, may be whether offensively-challenged Texas can score 30 points -- even against perennial Big 12 cellar-dweller Kansas. The burnt orange crystal ball says 'barely'.
Mike Blackwell: Texas 31, Kansas 14
Sean Adams: Texas 42, Kansas 9.
Michael Pearle: Texas 28, Kansas 10. The offense keeps improving and the defense has some fun. The Horns get a win that feels pretty good after the last two games, terrible opposition notwithstanding.
Clendon Ross: Texas 27, Kansas 17. That outcome is assuming continued progression from Tyrone Swoopes and the OL. I believe it will happen with two more weeks of practice under their belts. What scares you to death (sorry, had to do it) is any type of regression or simply an off day from the offense. Turnovers in particular could make this game a nail biter, especially given this defense's recent penchant for 2nd half breakdowns. The Horns have taken much better teams to Lawrence and just narrowly escaped, so this is no gimme, but it's certainly one Texas should and must win.
2) How many TDs does Swoopes account for, rush/pass:
Eric Nahlin: Three. 2 passing, 1 rushing. I'll even say he connects on a deep TD (over 50 yards).
Justin Wells: Two; 1 passing, 1 rushing. He'll have 300+ total yards. KU is the rare defense he'll see - maybe Texas Tech too - that his abilities should lead to gross stats.
Jesus Shuttlesworth: Three. 1 passing, 1 rushing, 1 receiving.
Ian Boyd: Two.
Bill Frisbie: Two passing TDs; zero rushing (Bad things happen when Texas QBs attempt goal-line sneaks in the Sunflower state).
Mike Blackwell: Two.
Sean Adams: Three total.
Michael Pearle: Two, both passing.
Clendon Ross: Two. Swoopes accounts for two of UT's three TDs and they both come through the air - one to John Harris, one to MJ McFarland, and Malcolm Brown gets the third TD on the ground.
3) Does Texas get a 100-yard rushing game from someone?________
Eric Nahlin: I'll say no but predict Gray and Brown each go over 75.
Justin Wells: No. Unless Brown or Gray break a long run, just not likely with this stable and OL. Catalon will be a 100-yard per game guy in the future, but not this Saturday.
Jesus Shuttlesworth: Yes, MB2L goes past 125+.
Ian Boyd: Nope, split carries between Brown and Gray hold both below 100.
Bill Frisbie: Yes. If not this weekend, then it may not happen in 2014.
Mike Blackwell: Yes, Malcolm Brown
Sean Adams: Yes, Malcolm Brown.
Michael Pearle: Yes, J-Gray will get out in space a couple times and eclipse the century mark.
Clendon Ross: No 100-yard rusher for the Horns. The carries are too spread out between Swoopes, Brown, and Gray (and maybe even Catalon finally).
4) Does Strong dismiss anyone else before 3:30pm (CT) kickoff in Lawrence?______
Eric Nahlin: Imagine what would happen on the board if I said 'yes' here, Justin.
Justin Wells: (cringes at Eric's answer)
Jesus Shuttlesworth: No.
Ian Boyd: No
Bill Frisbie: I think the team has got the memo by now, but I'd check to see if Justin Blaylock has any eligibility left.
Mike Blackwell: Nope, he's done for the year.
Sean Adams: No
Michael Pearle: I don’t know, but if I was big Des Harrison I would be keeping my eye on the Megabus schedules.
Clendon Ross: No dismissals for Charlie Strong before kickoff barring another coin flip fiasco.
5) Upset of the week:
Eric Nahlin: I'm assuming the rest of the panel will pick the same game. Because hope is a hell of a drug, Arkansas runs enough on A&M to keep the Swagcopter grounded. I'm kind of thinking Washington over Stanford as well.
Justin Wells: Iowa State over Baylor
Jesus Shuttlesworth: Arky over Aggie
Ian Boyd: I'm seeing one of these overrated SEC teams going down. I'll take Missouri over South Carolina.
Bill Frisbie: Yours truly correctly picked not one, but two, upsets during our last Pressbox. This week, I'll take Missouri over South Carolina. I'll also take Iowa State covering the 22-points at home against Baylor. Wouldn't be surprised to see Arkansas give the Aggies a scare at Jerry World.
Mike Blackwell: Texas State over Tulsa
Sean Adams: Mizzou over USC
Michael Pearle: Arkansas over A&M. A man can dream, can’t he??
Clendon Ross: Illinois over Nebraska
