Texas football: Bold predictions for UT vs. Rice

Longhorns looking to bounce back in a big way after heartbreaking loss

Malcolm Roach said it best earlier this week. 

"Playing the game, I've learned that the week after you win goes by fast," Roach said on Tuesday. "After you lose, the week goes by slow. I am just ready to move on to the next game."

That's a sentiment every Texas fan can get behind, and luckily the wait is almost over. 

In less than 24 hours as of the posting of this article Texas will kick off against Rice in the team's final non-conference tune up before hitting Big 12 play against Oklahoma State next week. 

Whether you are braving your way down to Houston to watch the game as part of what should be a fairly pro-Texas crowd at NRG Stadium or watching on TV, here are a few bold predictions to keep your eye on when the Longhorns run out on the field to take on the Owls. 

Keaontay Ingram will get his second career 100-yard game 

Whether you are looking at the fourth-down drop or leaving yards on the field when his number was called, Ingram just wasn't quite himself against LSU. 

The best way to get over a funk is to play your way through it and a game against Rice could be just what the doctor ordered. 

I expect to see Herman feed his No. 1 running back a ton of carries and allow him to pile up some yards and get into a groove in both the run and passing game. Ingram is going to get right back up on that horse and ride it to a big, productive day on an overmatched Rice front seven. 

Malcolm Roach will have a monster game 

It's hard to quantify numbers when you are talking about defensive linemen, but Malcolm Roach will stand out even for a casual viewer against Rice. After pass rushing and chasing around a surprisingly-nimble Joe Burrow last week, the Owls will run right at Texas' bell cow defensive lineman. 

Roach will be in heavy consideration for defensive player of the week after he and his fellow linemen disrupt the run-based Rice offense. 

Texas will win comfortably, but won't cover the spread 

Texas will control this game, but the Owls wont' deviate from their game plan. Look for Rice to run the ball even as Texas pulls away for a big lead by halftime. 

That run-based offense will continue to tick time off the clock, while Texas looks to establish a run game of its own. I think Texas gets up by more than the 30.5 spread, but those who decide to make a wager on the Longhorns will fall victim to the back-door cover and a garbage-time Rice score in a 41-14 victory.  

We'll see a lot more of Jake Smith

The Texas true freshman and former Gatorade Player National Player of the Year has been impressive so far, catching five passes for 51 yards and a score in two games, but those numbers area bout to go up. 

Smith will at least double his season totals in all three categories as the Longhorns use Collin Johnson sparingly - if at all - against Rice.