College football fans considering a wager ahead of the new season may want to back the narrow favorites, the Texas Longhorns, despite the departure of a record 12 players to the NFL. Steve Sarkasian’s side lost to Ohio State in the CFP National Championship Game following a strong regular season, and many are tipping them to go a step further in 2025.
Sarkisian goes into his fifth season in charge of Texas without the likes of Jahdee Baron, who left for the Denver Broncos, and Matthew Golden, who was drafted by the Green Bay Packers, and Kelvin Banks Jr., who was picked up by the New Orleans Saints, all in the first round of the draft.
Another nine talents joined that trio in the NFL, but Sarkisian still has a strong crop to select from, and if you want to bet on them to take the SEC title, here’s a list of the best sportsbook promos to use in order to place that bet.
With most sportsbooks, Texas leads the way, with some having the Longhorns down at +290, just a little ahead of Georgia, and this is with good reason. A lot of Texas fans are keen to see Arch Manning make an impact, and the 21-year-old, in his sophomore year, looks the part.
Manning took part in ten games last season, but only started two, securing two touchdowns and throwing for 939 yards, and you can expect those numbers to improve greatly in 2025, as no doubt a string of NFL scouts watch on from the stands.
Sarkisian was ebullient in his assessment of where he feels his team is right now, making it clear he rates his roster but does not want to see them take their collective feet off the peddle, commenting.
“I would say this – historically for me, your defense better be ahead of your offense, and we are,” said Sarkisian. “I think our defense is playing really good right now. The best teams I’ve ever been on, the defense usually is kind of ahead from that perspective. Not that the offense isn’t doing some really good things.”
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“I think offensively, we can play better. The key in offensive football is it takes all 11. You have one guy have a breakdown at left guard — that’s a sack, and we may have guys running wide open down the field.”
“I mean, I think the second play of team run today, Tre Wisner snapped off about a 50- or 60-yard run, which was great to see. I don’t love that, because I want our defense to be so dominant that it makes it hard on our offense to do what they want to do, but we’re doing good enough stuff. I would say our defense is ahead of our offense, and I’m okay with that. Now we’ve got to start going on offense – pick it up and play with a little better consistency than we have.” Sarkasian concluded.
The Longhorns start the season at Ohio State in what promises to be an epic opener and one that will display just what Texas might be able to pull off.
