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 The University of Texas (Longhorns) football team finished the 2007-08 season looking up at the BIG 12 Conference competition and is not projected to win the South Division again this year. That projection was bestowed on Oklahoma during the league’s media days last week. “Well, it sounds like some people don't think we're going to win the conference,” said Texas coach Mack Brown following the media vote. “Some people don't think we're going to be a Top 10 team.” Oddsmakers at online sports betting giant BetUS.com also see the Longhorns coming up short in the upcoming campaign installing the team at +200 money line odds to win the BIG 12 Conference and +150 odds to win the South Division. The favored Sooners are installed at EVEN odds to win the BIG 12 South and +150 to win the league championship. Oddsmakers at BetUS have the Longhorns at +1200 money line odds to win a BCS National Championship. The team favored to win a national title is USC at +300 odds. A total of 9- Texas wins is the posted number in OVER/UNDER betting. Texas will be filling some holes in the fall after losing 11 players including six on the offense following the 2007 campaign that went 10-3 and defeated Arizona State, 52-34, in the Holiday Bowl. The bowl victory helped UT finish No. 10 in the final rankings, giving the Horns their fifth Top 10 finish in the last seven years. Texas is expected to be solid at the quarterback position with the return of junior quarterback Colt McCoy and experienced backup John Chiles. The Horns will be looking for a replacement for departed running back Jamaal Charles, wide-out Limas Sweed and tight end Jermichael Finley. To replace Charles, coaches may do it by committee made up of Vondrell McGee and Fozzy Whitaker. There will be plenty of competition in fall camp at the wide receiver position but no clear leaders at this point. The defense has holes to fill also and enters the season untested as several positions, especially in the defensive secondary. Repeating a 10 win season will be difficult as the schedule is full of potential land mines. The Horns will be tested early with an early season trip to face UTEP in El Paso and in their Sep 13 home game with former Southwest Conference rival Arkansas. In conference play, Texas doesn’t catch any breaks with games against Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas as well as an improved Texas Tech. 2008 University of Texas football schedule Aug 30 Florida Atlantic Sep 06 @UTEP Sep 12 Arkansas Sep 20 Rice Oct 04 @Colorado Oct 11 Oklahoma (Dallas, Texas) Oct 18 Missouri Oct 25 Oklahoma State Nov 01 @Texas Tech Nov 08 Baylor Nov 15 @Kansas Nov 27 Texas A&M
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