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.

In Saturday’s 41-21 dispatching of Mississippi State in Starkville, Kirby Smart’s team rolled up a season-high 567 yards of total offense. 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 three. 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 top the Bulldogs.

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 defense in the country against the run, making for 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 Jahron Manning’s ejection for targeting is a significant development.

Smart said after the game that Luckie wanted to return to the field. Regardless, Luckie’s availability is one of the early storylines to monitor heading into the week.

— 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 proven he can get 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). Those three defenses came into the weekend ranked seventh, eighth and 17th against the run nationally.

The Longhorns have 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 and it needs to match a Georgia kicking game that 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.