The second-ranked Texas will travel to Atlanta on Saturday to face the fifth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs for the second time this season.
Georgia won the first meeting of the season in Austin, 30-15, marking the Longhorns’ only loss of the season. If Texas gets revenge at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Longhorns will become SEC champions and, more importantly, clinch a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff.
Regardless of Saturday’s outcome, Texas and Georgia will almost certainly advance to the 12-team playoffs, but the Longhorns could make a big splash by winning the SEC in their first year.
Here’s what we’re looking for in Atlanta:
Featured players
Texas: Anthony Hill Jr., LB
Hill, who won the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award as a freshman last season, has been even better in the SEC as a sophomore, leading the Longhorns to rank second nationally in scoring average. This is a big reason why they have such a strong defensive unit. 11.7 games. Hill has been a wreck this year, totaling 15 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and an SEC-leading four forced fumbles. In the least amount of time Texas played against Georgia, Hill had eight tackles and one sack.
Georgia: Carson Beck, QB
It’s been a Jekyll and Hyde-like season for Georgia’s fifth-year quarterback. He leads the SEC in passing touchdowns (28) and interceptions (12). In each of the Bulldogs’ losses this season, he threw three picks to Alabama, and against Ole Miss, he failed to find the end zone on 31 throws, making it an unremarkable performance. The last time he played against Texas, he had three interceptions. Beck will probably need to be better if the Bulldogs want to secure the SEC title and a first-round CFP bye in the second round in Atlanta.
Staff recommended
Opening line: Texas -1.5
Blake Schuster: Texas -2.5
Full disclosure, I jumped on this line at -1.5, but I’ll still take this number. Texas still looks elite. Georgia is limping. This may be a home game for the Bulldogs, but the Longhorns have played Michigan, Arkansas and Texas A&M. The environment is not shocking.
Mitchell Northam: Georgia +2.5
Haven’t we seen this game yet? And now it’s being played in Georgia?
Christian D’Andrea: Texas -2.5
The Longhorns are simply playing good football right now.
Michelle Martinelli: Texas -2.5
The small but accurate spread made sense either way. But on the theory that the loser of the first game wins the rematch during the season, the Longhorns also seem to be in good shape for now.
Tyler Nettuno: Texas -2.5
Facing Kirby Smart in a rematch feels like fodder to look really stupid, but Texas is a more consistent team this season despite the result in Austin earlier this year.
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