- The Texas Longhorns’ spread at Tennessee has fallen from an opening 5.5 points to 4.5, with 5 still posted at one book.
- The game total opened between 55.5 and 57.5 depending on the book and now sits at 54.5 everywhere it is offered.
- The Tennessee Volunteers are priced at +175 on the moneyline, with Texas laying about -210 to win outright.
- Texas enters as the Associated Press’ No. 1 team, and Tennessee climbed to No. 14 at 3-0.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Texas Longhorns’ spread on the road at the Tennessee Volunteers has shrunk a full point since the line opened, from 5.5 to 4.5, and the total has settled at 54.5 from an open of 55.5 to 57.5 ahead of Saturday’s noon kickoff at Neyland Stadium.
A Full Point Off The Spread
The market opened the Texas Longhorns as a 5.5-point favorite over the Tennessee Volunteers on Sunday, and the number reached 4.5 in the early hours of Wednesday, before the SEC’s first availability report of the week was out. It has bounced since, from as low as 3.5 to as high as 5.5 overnight into Friday.
Friday morning the legal sports betting board shows 4.5, with 5 still available at one shop. A bettor who liked Tennessee early in the week got a full extra point that isn’t posted anymore, and a Texas backer now lays a point less than the opener asked.
The total moved the same direction. It opened between 55.5 and 57.5 depending on the book and has settled at 54.5 across the board, a sign the market expects a lower-scoring game than it did on Sunday. Tennessee’s moneyline sits at +175, with Texas laying about -210 to win outright, prices that still make Texas the clear favorite even with the spread down a point.
Texas’ Injury Report Gets Heavier
Texas’ list on the SEC availability report grew through the week. Wednesday’s first report tagged Hollywood Smothers as questionable after the running back, who leads the Longhorns with 198 yards and two touchdowns on 41 carries, sat out practice.
Thursday’s update moved tight end Nick Townsend from doubtful to out with the knee injury that already cost him last week’s game. Three more stay out: Justus Terry on the defensive line, Xavier Filsaime in the secondary and Jordan Coleman up front. Tennessee’s list of five players out did not change between Wednesday and Thursday.
The timing matters for reading the move. The spread had already dropped to 4.5 before any of that was published, so the market’s shift toward the home team came from something other than the health news. Smothers’ status is the one piece that could still move the number before kickoff, since his 41 carries lead the Texas backfield.
Saturday’s Matchup
Texas is 3-0 and No. 1 in the Associated Press’ Top 25. Tennessee is also 3-0 and moved up to No. 14 after a 42-9 win over Kennesaw State. Saturday is the first meeting between the schools as SEC members and Texas’ first visit to Neyland Stadium, with kickoff set for noon Eastern on ABC, the headline game on a college football betting board loaded with ranked matchups this week.
