College football betting: How to bet LSU-Texas - ESPN

Texas keeps collecting ranked wins. LSU could use one just to stay ranked. The Longhorns head to Baton Rouge with four wins against the initial CFP top 25, two more than anybody else.

Meanwhile, LSU has lost five straight games against ranked opponents and just watched Alabama take over its stadium in the second half in Week 10. Now comes Arch Manning, a Texas defense that makes touchdowns hard to come by and another Saturday night in Death Valley. The potential for a three-loss team to make the playoff is live, leaving LSU with no room for error and Texas fighting to avoid finding out what a third loss could mean.

Here's how the matchup could work and where I see a betting angle.

Odds by DraftKings and subject to change.

No. 7 Texas Longhorns at No. 14 LSU Tigers -4
Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC

Records: Texas 7-2, 4-0 vs. AP Top 25; LSU 6-3, 2-2 vs. AP Top 25
Money line: Texas (+150); LSU (-180)
Over/Under: 46.5 (O-105, U-115)

Saturday night in Death Valley… yeah, that's a lot. But I can't say Texas falls apart on the road when it already won at Tennessee and Missouri. My concern is what happens if Texas can't run the ball and Manning has to keep the offense functional and out of trouble.

That's where LSU can make this ugly. Stop the early runs, force third-and-long and make Manning throw when everybody knows he's throwing. His completion percentage drops from 70% with a clean pocket to 53% under pressure. He can make the ridiculous throw, then make a decision that leaves you wondering what he actually saw. That's always my concern with asking him to carry the offense.

Tigers QB Sam Leavitt has been more dependable. He can work underneath, get outside the pocket and pick up yards himself. Texas has to account for his