Texas Favored to Contain Vanderbilt‘s Diego Pavia in SEC Clash
AUSTIN, TX – November 18, 2023 – Texas is a 2.5-point favorite against Vanderbilt as the Longhorns return home for a Saturday SEC matchup, according to odds from DraftKings.While the status of Texas quarterback Arch Manning remains a storyline, analysts suggest the game’s outcome hinges more on Texas’s stout defense and Vanderbilt’s reliance on Heisman hopeful Diego Pavia.
The longhorns’ offense has been unremarkable with Manning under center, ranking 50th nationally in points per game, 70th in yards per play, and 88th in red-zone scoring rate. However, Texas boasts the nation’s third-ranked defense, allowing just 4.2 yards per play. Conversely, Vanderbilt’s success is driven by Pavia, who has propelled the Commodores to ninth in scoring offense (37.4 points per game) and sixth in yards per play (7.0).
Analysts predict Texas’s defense will be key to slowing Pavia and the Vanderbilt offense, which has thrived against weaker defensive opponents. The Longhorns’ ability to neutralize pavia is expected to be the deciding factor.
The Play: Texas -2.5 (-115, DraftKings)
Michael Leboff, a sports bettor with 10 years of industry experience, recommends the bet, leveraging his expertise in game theory and market analysis.
