ESPN’s Todd McShay has strong feel for Texas and the Longhorns’ College Football Playoff expectations
ESPN’s Todd McShay has run hot and cold on Texas over the years, but he’s always had a fair-minded approach to the Longhorns. He really likes Texas’ chances to reach the College Football Playoff semifinals and possibly the national title game. Appearing on The Ryen Russillo Podcast, McShay studied the bracket and clearly thinks the […]
ESPN’s Todd McShay has run hot and cold on Texas over the years, but he’s always had a fair-minded approach to the Longhorns.
He really likes Texas’ chances to reach the College Football Playoff semifinals and possibly the national title game.
Appearing on The Ryen Russillo Podcast, McShay studied the bracket and clearly thinks the fifth-seeded Horns have a favorable draw. Texas (11-2) opens against Clemson (10-3) at home on Dec. 21. The winner advances to the quarterfinals to face Big 12 champion Arizona State.
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“I'll tell you what, man. Texas,” McShay said. “They get into a rhythm. They get that first game at home against a team in Clemson that doesn’t belong. They get to play another team that is solid, but without Jordan Tyson, (ASU’s) wide receiver, I don't think Arizona State has enough balance offensively. Now, all of a sudden they're in the semifinals.
“And yeah, that’ll be hard game, but any team in the semifinals is going to have a difficult game,” McShay added. “But then it becomes one win to get in.
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“If I’m Texas, I’d rather play Oregon in the semis than have to play Georgia again. Because Penn State I don't think can beat Georgia. So while Penn State got the easiest trip to the semis, I think Texas has the best path to the national championship.”
McShay is right about one clear point. Texas doesn’t want to see Georgia again, at least not until it’s for all the marbles on Jan. 20 back in Atlanta. The Bulldogs are 2-0 against the Horns this season, winning in Austin and beating them again in the SEC championship.
But first comes a date with Clemson, the ACC runner-up. Texas opened as a 10.5- or 11-point favorite when the initial lines were posted on Sunday. That’s a comfortable margin for a team playing at home in what is supposed to the best games of the year.
Russillo didn’t have too much to quibble with regarding McShay’s picks.
“Yeah, I think that makes a lot of sense,” Russillo said. “I picked Oregon this summer and I’m going to stay with the Ducks.”
