Texas Football: Game-by-Game Predictions for the Month of October

A full month of the season is in the books, and the Longhorns are a below-average 2-2 heading into a brutal month of October. Given the current state of the team, Texas would be lucky to get one more victory before November.

Charlie Strong's team has talent, but the offensive line is dragging down the team as a whole. Through four games, the Longhorns are averaging just 3.4 yards per carry, which tied for worst in the Big 12.

Texas' ineffectiveness up front has also limited the team's big-play ability, as evidenced by Tyrone Swoopes' 5.7 yards-per-attempt average.

That might be good enough to take care of Iowa State at home, but Baylor, Oklahoma and Kansas State will be major problems unless this team makes a radical improvement.

10/4 vs. Baylor

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Unless the Texas offense has been saving its best stuff for this game, the Longhorns just don't have the juice to keep up with the explosive Baylor offense.

An offensive juggernaut by every metric, the Bears lead the nation in scoring offense and total offense, averaging 56.8 points and 641.0 yards per contest, per NCAA.com. They also lead the Big 12 in rushing offense with 239.8 yards per game.

The Longhorns are the total opposite on this side of the ball, averaging barely over 21 points per game behind an offensive line that is only blocking for 3.4 yards per carry.

To beat Baylor, you have to be able to score a lot of points while keeping your defense off the field. The Longhorns, who have converted just 31 percent of their third downs, have shown zero ability to do either, which says that the Horns are in serious trouble in this matchup.

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Strong on playing Baylor, OU next: “We’re gonna have to play better, we’re gonna have to score some points now."

— Max Olson (@max_olson) September 27, 2014"

Much like the BYU game, the Longhorns will hang around in the first half while their defense is fresh. Then the floodgates will open as Art Briles' offense starts to have its way with an exhausted Texas front.

Prediction: Baylor 49, Texas 14

10/11 vs. Oklahoma (Arlington, TX)

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No rest for the weary Longhorns, who go from the nation's premier offense to one of its most complete teams, the Oklahoma Sooners.

Like Baylor, the Sooners can hurt you with the run just as effectively as they can with the pass. Quarterback Trevor Knight has had some big days throwing the ball, and freshman Samaje Perine is an emerging star at running back.

Even if Texas can force Knight into some mistakes, the Oklahoma defense is more than capable of picking up the slack. Mike Stoops' unit gets after the quarterback, forces a lot of turnovers and is allowing just 2.9 yards per carry through four games.

Unless Texas figures out how to move the ball against that, this game will follow a script similar to that of the Baylor game.

Prediction: Oklahoma 35, Texas 13

10/18 vs. Iowa State

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Texas' matchup with Iowa State is a must-win for Texas and its head coach, who will take a lot of heat for losses against Baylor and Oklahoma. Even if Iowa State is tougher than expected, the Longhorns cannot afford to lose this one.

The Cyclones hung tough with Kansas State, then were barely in Baylor's way until they were able to put up points in garbage time. They are always tough under Paul Rhoads but have no identity, ranking in the conference's bottom three in every offensive category.

Texas' defense should have a big day at home, while the offense will do enough to handle business against a Cyclone defense that gives up five yards per carry.

A win here should give the Longhorns some confidence before they hit a five-game stretch that will mean the difference between bowl eligibility and a 3-9 regular season. It will also get the fair-weather fans off of Strong's back for a week.

Prediction: Texas 27, Iowa State 17

10/25 at Kansas State

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Texas closes its rough October against Kansas State in Manhattan, where the Horns haven't won since 2002.

The Wildcats are a tough out at home for any team, giving the Top Five Auburn Tigers all they could handle in a 20-14 loss. Had kicker Jack Cantele not missed three field goals, Bill Snyder's team might have turned in the upset of the season.

Even in defeat, the Wildcats proved that they can clamp down on the best of them, as holding a Gus Malzahn offense to 2.8 yards per carry is no joke.

As for the offense, the Wildcats are once again improving as the season wears on. The Longhorns know how dangerous Tyler Lockett is after he ran wild (13 catches, 237 yards) on them last season, but quarterback Jake Waters has proven to be a competent dual threat while running back Charles Jones comes into his own.

Coupled with that defense, Snyder has more than enough to keep baffling the Horns.

Prediction: Kansas State 20, Texas 10