Inside Texas Roundtable: Texas vs. Bama players to watch, score predictions, and more

We are just days away from the most anticipated non-conference game of the 2023 college football season. The No. 11 Texas Longhorns head to Tuscaloosa, Ala. to face the No. 3 Crimson Tide. Texas is the first non-SEC Power 5 team to venture into Bryant-Denny Stadium in over a decade, and is looking to be the first non-conference opponent to win on the Crimson Tide’s home turf since Louisiana-Monroe in 2007.

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The Inside Texas staff offers players to watch, key matchups, score predictions, and more for the game of the year.

True or false: Out of the the gates Steve Sarkisian has the offense looking night and day different from last week.

Eric Nahlin – True. Steve Sarkisian will design a game plan with the express purpose of getting Quinn Ewers into an early rhythm. To do that he’ll call plays to Ewers’ strength, namely RPO’s and second level throws. I expect Ewers to throw to where the DB cushion is.

Justin Wells – True

Ian Boyd – Mostly true. I could see a jittery drive or two before they find their rhythm but overall I think they’ll be much sharper much earlier than against the Owls.

Joe Cook – True. We know the Sark script is usually a winner, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Longhorns take the ball first if they win the toss. But I think the first post-script drive will be telling. If the Horns can get to that point up 7-0, that’ll be a win. 3-0 would be a win, too.

Gerry Hamilton – Could be both, honestly. Much more pre-snap window dressing and formation looks. Look night and day different, yes. But a lot more success? Not sure I can go there.

Bobby Burton – True. Texas better hope so, or it’ll be tough sledding in Tuscaloosa.

Paul Wadlington – True… but for how long?

If you’re Kyle Flood, who would you start at each guard position and why?

Eric Nahlin – I would start Neto Umeozulu at left guard and Cole Hutson at right guard. Ultimately you need assignment soundness which is why I give the nod to Huston over DJ Campbell. You’d think the same would apply with Hayden Conner, but not only has he had issues with assignments and pre-snap, he seems disinterested in being physical. Alabama is very interested in being physical.

Justin Wells – Neto Umeozulu at left guard and Cole Hutson at right guard. They’re the best available and know the assignments.

Ian Boyd – I’d start Hayden Conner at left guard and Cole Hutson at right guard. I want the lineup who’s most likely to play cohesively, communicate, and avoid busts. Texas is not aiming to win by forcing the issue down Main Street on Alabama, Texas just wants to play to a draw there where possible and beat the Tide elsewhere on the field.

Joe Cook – Hayden Conner and Cole Hutson. Go with experience in Tuscaloosa but don’t feel committed to it. If Texas needs Neto Umeozulu at LG, it can’t shy away from that fact.

Gerry Hamilton – Tough question due to not knowing which guards are closer to 100 percent healthy. Would say same starting five as the first game if healthy enough, then rotate/go from there. If DJ Campbell is good to go health wise, yanking him out of the starting lineup after one game is a tough call. You can always bring in Cole Hutson quickly if need be. But you could see a staff leaning on experience to start the game too. Texas will play all the guards unless the game dictates otherwise.

Bobby Burton – I’d start Neto Umeozulu at left guard and Cole Hutson at right. I don’t think you can give up on DJ Campbell after one game, though.

Paul Wadlington – If I were Kyle Flood and watched them every day, I would have tried to solve this problem in the offseason when I realized what I had and saw the abundance of starting guard options in the portal who were snapped up by teams like Michigan, Auburn and Miami. The milk is spilled, so now it’s time to take a look at Neto Umeozulu and Cole Hutson. Both initially at least splitting reps. If they’re an improvement, reps increase.

Where would you set the O/U on total yards (run and pass) for Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe?

Eric Nahlin – 215. Bama has quality receivers who can work at all three levels of the field. I think Milroe will connect on some easy throws but will struggle over the top. I can see him dink and dunk his way to 15-for-22 for 165 yards. 50 yards on the ground sounds about right, though when factoring for sacks hopefully it’s less.

Justin Wells – 225 yards with 150 passing and 75 rushing. Definition of a dual-threat

Ian Boyd – Around 200. He’s liable to run the ball 15-20 times and that’d probably yield 40-50 yards even if Texas stonewalls those efforts. Then he just needs to clear 150 passing yards to hit 200 overall.

Joe Cook – I’d set an over/under at 240. He’s not going to hit a ton in the pass game but I wouldn’t put an explosive run past him.

Gerry Hamilton – 224.5

Bobby Burton – 250.

Paul Wadlington – 225.5

When it’s all said and done, which position group, on either team and on either side of the ball had the best game?

Eric Nahlin – Give me the Texas receivers as the respective defensive lines cancel each other out.

Justin Wells – Alabama’s defensive front. Too much talent, too many issues on UT’s interior O-line.

Ian Boyd – If Texas wins it’ll be due to the wide receivers.

Joe Cook – Texas’ wideouts. It doesn’t have to be with the deep ball. That would help of course, but Texas can rack up yards with screens and underneath routes.

Gerry Hamilton – Special teams and tight end for Texas. EDGE and DL for Alabama.

Bobby Burton – The Bama run game.

Paul Wadlington – The Texas DL.

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What, if any, are UT’s favorable matchups?

Eric Nahlin – Texas’ D-line against the Alabama offensive line is an obvious one, but I think UT’s receiving personnel, including Ja’Tavion Sanders and the running backs, is going to be Sark’s most exploitable advantage.

Justin Wells – Texas DBs versus Alabama WRs. The Horns should dominate these matchups.

Ian Boyd – They have a few pretty significant ones. Texas’ overall skill talent group against the Alabama back seven is an advantage they’ll be looking to press but the Texas D-line against Alabama’s offensive line is also a bigger Longhorn advantage than many seem to currently appreciate.

Joe Cook – I think the Texas secondary can handle themselves versus the Bama wideouts no matter who is on the field for each team, but the Longhorns will have to be cognizant of how many snaps they leave the twos out there for. I also think Texas has a special teams advantage.

Gerry Hamilton – Texas’ special teams will be the best in the game. Also, Texas NT/DT’s versus Alabama’s center and right guard.

Bobby Burton – I like the Texas WRs in just about any match up. The problem will be getting Quinn Ewers enough time to find them.

Paul Wadlington – The Texas defense vs the Bama offense. Xavier Worthy against any defender.

Predict the winner and final score

Eric Nahlin – 27-24, Texas

Justin Wells – 21-20, Alabama

Ian Boyd – 27-21, Texas. Crew cut Quinn Ewers puts together a cleaner performance and the Longhorns upset a clearly annoyed Nick Saban.

Joe Cook – 28-27, Alabama

Gerry Hamilton – 27-20, Alabama

Bobby Burton – 20-17, Alabama

Paul Wadlington – 27-23, Alabama