Betting Vanderbilt-Texas: How to bet Saturday's showdown in Austin - ESPN

Vanderbilt is now 7-1 and ranked inside the top 10 for the first time since 1947. If the Commodores beat the Longhorns, they would be 8-1 for the first time since 1941. Texas, at 6-2, is fighting to stay in the playoff conversation, leaving fans clinging to hope that a defense is enough to carry them.

One team is proving itself week after week. The other — Texas — may need to rediscover itself offensively if Arch Manning sits. Saturday in Austin will say plenty about which story keeps going.

All odds by ESPN BET

No. 9 Vanderbilt Commodores at No. 20 Texas Longhorns
Saturday, Noon ET, ESPN

Line: Texas -2.5
Money line: Texas (-145), Vanderbilt (+125)
Over/Under: 45.5 (O -105, U -115)

It hasn't been pretty but through eight games, Manning has accounted for nearly all of Texas' offense, while masking a lot of inefficiency underneath. This has offense averaging 5.4 yards per play and is ranked outside the top 60 in touchdowns scored, with stats inflated from a 55-0 blowout over winless Sam Houston, and they are leaning heavily on short fields and defensive stops.

With Manning in concussion protocol, Matthew Caldwell steps in as the steady hand. He's been everywhere from Jacksonville State to Gardner-Webb to Troy, and now Texas. He's accurate and safe but that's also a limitation because the Longhorns' offense shifts from dynamic to deliberate. With only 11 attempts at Texas, we have to look back at his Troy data from last year. There was a steep drop when pressure, completing just 43% of passing and averaging 4.6 yards per attempt. The Texas offensive line? Probably the worst unit on the field. The Vanderbilt pass rush? Can generate enough pressure to disrupt.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian will likely lean on quick throws,