Key Points:
- Joel Klatt revealed his pick for the Texas versus Vanderbilt Week 10 showdown.
- The Fox Sports analyst broke down key factors that could decide the game.
- Texas aims to defend home turf as Vanderbilt looks to extend its streak.
Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt predicted some of college football’s biggest Week 10 matchups on Thursday. That includes a game between the No. 20 Texas Longhorns and the No. 9 Vanderbilt Commodores.
Texas is on a three-game winning streak, rallying for road victories the past two weeks, while Vanderbilt has won two straight game. The Commodores, though, enter enemy territory at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.
Despite being ranked considerably lower, ESPN’s matchup predictor gives the Longhorns a 70.4% chance of winning. Klatt agrees with that, choosing Texas in a video posted to “The Joel Klatt Show: A College Football Podcast” YouTube channel.
“I’m sorry, but I just can’t be like ‘hey, Vandy is going to go to Texas and win,’ I’m sorry, Vandy,” Klatt said. “It’s magical, I get it. You’re in DKR. I think that they lose. Texas is favored by two and a half. I’m going to take Texas 20-17.”
It would be a big win for the Longhorns, who already have two losses on the season and are trying to keep their SEC title and College Football Playoff hopes alive.
Joel Klatt Names a “Big Key” For Texas
Texas’ offense has struggled this season, ranking 11th in the SEC in total yards per game (375.6). Klatt said the Longhorns need a strong performance from the offensive line to establish the run.
“They were really the most experienced line in college football last season, and this year they are not, and it has shown… We’ll see if they can be more effective running the ball,” Klatt said. “That’s a big key in this one. They’ve got to control the line of scrimmage.”
Running back Quintrevion Wisner has gotten a bulk of the carries for the offense, but he’s yet to eclipse 100 rushing yards in a game this season. In fact, nobody on Texas’ offense has done that.
Arch Manning’s Status Against Vanderbilt
In the Longhorns’ Week 9 win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs, quarterback Arch Manning sustained a concussion. His availability to play against Vanderbilt has remained in question.
On Thursday, according to Evan Vieth of Inside Texas, head coach Steve Sarkisian confirmed Manning practiced and said, “I don’t have anything beyond that with Arch, just because we have to follow the protocol of the days and the rest, but Arch has been making good progress.”
This season, he’s thrown for 1,795 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions. He’s also rushed for 199 yards and six touchdowns on 68 carries. His ability to suit up against the Commodores could have major implications on the game’s outcome.