The 2024 kick-off had pinned down Steve Sarkisian’s Texas Longhorns with a huge blow. Their star QB Quinn Ewers got benched for the time being after his injury. Like every bad thing comes with a side of good, this has been no different. While Ewers will no longer be in action, the fans will get to witness Arch Manning’s prowess.

The latest member of the Manning legacy is poised to make his first start against Louisiana Monroe Warhawks on September 21. However, it’s time for the bettors to hold their horses. After all, an analyst on the ESPN BET podcast believes that Manning will fall prey to 45 45-point underdog. Meanwhile, UL Monroe is already taking the Texas QB lightly. 

Joe Fortenbaugh’s reality check for Arch Manning’s bettors

Longhorns HC Sarkisian is also known as the quarterback whisperer since he possesses the talent to mold young signal-callers into stars. Now that Manning refused to switch and stayed with the Texas this season as well, he had already won the HC’s trust. The program is already in a bad state and Sarkisian now counts on Manning as the starter.  ESPN analyst Joe Fortenbaugh came up with another reality check, “Arch getting the start UL Monroe 45 Point Underdog in this game right.”

With this, the bettors must tread with extra caution when it comes to Manning. An underdog will need +45.5 passing yards. While there are no second thoughts about Manning’s QB talents, going by the speculations, he will be called off before the game ends. Fortenbaugh pointed out, “How long do you want to leave him in this game now that Ewers is banged up.” Sarkisian’s squad is already in a sticky spot now that Ewers is bogged down by injury.

Under such circumstances, the Longhorns HC will keep himself away from any risk. “If you’re up 31 late in this game do you want to keep him out there knowing you got the conference schedule on the horizon?” stated the analyst. As the bettors brace for a Manning meltdown, the Warhawks are suiting up to crash his QB party.

UL-Monroe’s game plan could spell trouble for Manning

Now that Ewers is out for the weekend’s game after suffering from an abdominal strain, Louisiana-Monroe can finally let out a sigh of relief. While Ewers had been a genuine concern for them, they did not seem to be much bothered about facing Manning. They are rather taking things lightly as ULM DC Earnest Hill confessed, “We actually have some kids on our team who played against him in New Orleans, and a couple guys done beat him already.” 

With this, the “fear” factor has taken an exit door. Sarkisian has just confirmed Ewers in the starting role. But so what? The UL-Monroe has already lined up three players who would give Manning a hard time. The first one in line is their QB General Maximus Axel Booty. The player holds some good stats of completing 19 of 30 passes for 191 yards, paired with a touchdown. 

The next one is Elijah Fisher, the junior who is in his third season as a starter and would be the ultimate weapon to keep Arch Manning along with his defensive front under check. Then comes the cornerback David Godsey, who is known for his tenacity to fight with taller players and makes switching from CB to safety look like a cakewalk. So, the bettors better consider the hints before pinning high hopes on Arch Manning. 

Now that the Arch Manning scenario gets clarity, time for you to take a look at the interesting Think Tank podcast with the famous Doug Sanders for a better knowledge of NIL and the NFL.