OTF Premium Early thoughts on No. 11 Texas traveling to No. 5 Georgia

[Jeff Howe]

When No. 11 Texas faces fifth-ranked Georgia in Athens next Saturday (6:30 p.m., ABC), it will do so on the heels of the Bulldogs’ most complete performance of the season.

Kirby Smart’s team rolled up a season-high 567 yards of total offense in Saturday’s 41-21 dispatching of Mississippi State. Georgia (8-1, 6-1 SEC) ran for 303 yards and averaged 7.7 yards per play on an afternoon in which Gunnar Stockton (18-for-29 passing for 264 yards and three touchdowns) led five consecutive touchdown drives after a first-quarter fumble in the red zone.

A defense entered Saturday’s game with a Power Four-low eight sacks recorded through eight games. After allowing a 14-play, 75-yard drive to open the game, the Bulldogs forced two three-and-outs, four total punts, a fumble and a turnover on downs to help Georgia build a 38-7 lead by the 9:58 mark of the third quarter.

The Longhorns won four consecutive SEC games after losing to Florida. Texas (7-2, 4-1) has earned the opportunity to position itself as a threat to get back to the SEC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff if it can hand the Bulldogs their second conference loss.

With Georgia’s trip to Starkville out of the way, the countdown to the third meeting between the Longhorns and the Bulldogs in 392 days is officially underway.

— Along with a healthy running back room (Nate Frazier’s 59-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter highlighted a 12-carry, 181-yard performance against Mississippi State), Georgia’s offensive line looks just as good, if not better than the group Stacy Searles put on the field last season.

Texas will come into the game with arguably the best run defense in the country. It should be a hellacious trench battle next Saturday.

— The tight end position is a significant piece in Mike Bobo’s offense, which is why Lawson Luckie’s departure after he was leveled on a hit that led to safety Jahron Manning’s ejection for targeting is a significant development.

Smart said after the game that Luckie wanted to get back on the field after he was ruled out, providing hope of a positive prognosis. Regardless, Luckie’s availability is one of the early health-related storylines to monitor, along with the status of Ryan Wingo (thumb) and Jelani McDonald (concussion protocol), both of whom suffered injuries in the Longhorns' 34-31 win over Vanderbilt.

— Zachariah Branch and Noah Thomas both hauled in touchdowns from Stockton on Saturday. The Bulldogs have upgraded at wide receiver since the last time Texas saw Georgia, with the transfer wideouts responsible for two of Stockton’s completions against Mississippi State that were explosive in nature (gained 15 or more yards), including Thomas’ 64-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter.

— The toughest task the Longhorns have in front of them is figuring out how to run the football with some level of consistency against a defense that came into the weekend as a top-15 unit against the run (94.1 yards per game and 3.01 yards per attempt allowed). Even though Texas is last in the SEC in rushing yards per game in conference play (84.1), Quintrevion Wisner has a track record of getting the job done in big games.

Wisner’s most productive games this season have come against Ohio State (80 yards on 16 carries), Oklahoma (22 carries for 94 yards and five receptions for 35 yards) and Vanderbilt (75 yards on 18 carries and 28 yards on two catches), the seventh, eighth and 17th-ranked FBS run defenses heading into the weekend. With Wisner running behind an offensive line that might've found its best combination with Cole Hutson at left guard and Connor Robertson at center, the Longhorns have at least a puncher’s chance to move the ball on the ground.

— Georgia is elite in the kicking game.

While turnovers doomed Texas in the first meeting with Georgia last season, Brett Thorson’s ability to flip the field and help the Bulldogs dominate field position was a significant factor in the Longhorns’ struggles. Texas is much improved on special teams from last season, but it needs its best game of the season to match or top Georgia's kicking game, which might be the best in the country.

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[Jeff Howe]

I’m already ready!

[Joe Zura]

6 minutes ago, Jeff Howe said:

I’m already ready!

[chennups]

their offense looks scary--especially the way our defense has been playing the last couple of games.

[SB21]

Gonna be a fun one that’s for sure. 

[Alex Butler]

Not confident after that performance they just put up. That’s Kirby putting everyone on notice that they are come on strong headed into the playoffs. I’m thinking it’s a 38-21 game. I’m just not sure we have enough in the tank and Athens at night is a scary tough place to play let alone win. REALLY REALLY hope I’m wrong. 

[HudGar1922]

dear god prepare for the fake punt 

[4thandFive]

If Texas wins, we’re golden 

[Connor Vaughn]

Georgia 38

Texas 27 

[NothinButDaHorns34]

Can’t pick us to win this one with a straight face. Would love to be wrong, But sarks gotta prove it. I got us going 9-3 this year and not making the playoffs. That florida L is going to be our undoing this year. 

[Jeff Howe]

3 minutes ago, NothinButDaHorns34 said:

Can’t pick us to win this one with a straight face. Would love to be wrong, But sarks gotta prove it. I got us going 9-3 this year and not making the playoffs. That florida L is going to be our undoing this year. 

And given what Kentucky is doing to Florida tonight, that loss isn’t aging well.

[Jarveaux]

Your giving me hope Jeff !

[Waxahorn]

“Don’t matter what they throw at us. Only angry people win football games.”

[CoachBobbyFinstock]

3 hours ago, Alex Butler said:

Not confident after that performance they just put up. That’s Kirby putting everyone on notice that they are come on strong headed into the playoffs. I’m thinking it’s a 38-21 game. I’m just not sure we have enough in the tank and Athens at night is a scary tough place to play let alone win. REALLY REALLY hope I’m wrong. 

Good post and ageee. I do not feel good about our secondary right now. I only feel marginally better about the Oline. 
 

Those two spots are weaknesses. Georgia will exploit them.

Texas will have to play an A- game at worsr. We need a Sarkisian 2023 Alabama special. 

[thatdude2]

We got Arch, and they don’t.

[Paul Jespersen]

We CAN beat GA, but it will be a very very tough out and a lot will have to go right. Certainly can't beat ourselves - need our cleanest game of the year.

Defining game opportunity though. Let's go!

🤘

[selfdm]

10 hours ago, Jeff Howe said:

And given what Kentucky is doing to Florida tonight, that loss isn’t aging well.

Gosh no kidding. But at least they kept it close with Georgia? Grasping for straws here. 

[AusMOJO]

10 hours ago, Jeff Howe said:

And given what Kentucky is doing to Florida tonight, that loss isn’t aging well.

Well to be fair, that was with their HC and all the drama about firing him....besides us just playing bad, lol. Not sure it means much considering this same Florida team was a few bad calls away from beating Georgia last week. 

[Sundancekid]

We often win when people think we can’t. We frequently lose when everyone thinks we will win. Let’s see how things turn out.

[alrightalrightalright]

College GameDay has 3 games to choose from this week:

• Texas at Georgia
• Oklahoma at Alabama
• Notre Dame at Pitt

I don't think they'd seriously consider Iowa at USC. The games above all have direct playoff effects.

[Texas fan in Georgia]

38 minutes ago, alrightalrightalright said:

College GameDay has 3 games to choose from this week:

• Texas at Georgia
• Oklahoma at Alabama
• Notre Dame at Pitt

I don't think they'd seriously consider Iowa at USC. The games above all have direct playoff effects.

They’re definitely going to UGA/Texas

[GDI]

40 minutes ago, alrightalrightalright said:

I don't think they'd seriously consider Iowa at USC. The games above all have direct playoff effects.

Remember this is ESPN we're talking about.

[Thanos72]

11 hours ago, Jeff Howe said:

And given what Kentucky is doing to Florida tonight, that loss isn’t aging well.

They quit after the ga robbing. So tired of ga getting bs calls. It’s how the 1st half in the championship was even close. 

[Texas fan in Georgia]

I refuse to believe sark hasn’t been looking forward to this game since after the OU game. I’m hoping to see the Alabama 2023 gameplan. Quick passes. Get the ball out early . Let your playmakers work. Take the deep shot when you need to. Sarks about to empty the clip in Athens . If our defense comes to play, especially the secondary Texas can win this game . For the love of god tackle in space and no busted coverages. 

[Kevin C]

43 minutes ago, alrightalrightalright said:

College GameDay has 3 games to choose from this week:

• Texas at Georgia
• Oklahoma at Alabama
• Notre Dame at Pitt

I don't think they'd seriously consider Iowa at USC. The games above all have direct playoff effects.

great summary @Jeff Howe!   This will be the ultimate re-match following SEC title game loss for Texas last season.   OU/Bama a close second but it has to be in Athens this weekend.    

Sticking with my prediction as everything lining up perfectly.   Georgia just dominated team Texas barely escaped.   Georgia gonna be feeling itself and Texas bout to bring its most complete game of the season as Sark has finally figured out how to call plays for Arch to maximize and stay upright with this OL.   RBs and WRs peaking at right time/. 
 

Texas - 30

Georgia - 20

 

Hook em!!🧡🐂🤘🏼