3 reasons why the Georgia Bulldogs can beat Texas during Week 8 showdown
The Georgia Bulldogs are off to a strong start in the 2024 college football season as they are 5-1, 3-1 in SEC play, and ranked fifth in the nation. They began the year by blowing out the then-No.14-ranked Clemson Tigers in their season opener, following it up with another blowout against the FCS-level Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles.
The Bulldogs struggled in their SEC opener against the Kentucky Wildcats as they narrowly escaped their trip to Lexington with a 13-12 win. After a bye in Week 4, they visited Tuscaloosa to take on the then-No.4-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide in an early Game of the Year contender that they dropped 41-34.
Georgia returned home in Week 6 with an 18-point victory over the Auburn Tigers. They followed that with another conference victory at home, beating the Mississippi State Bulldogs by ten points last weekend. The Bulldogs will face a much tougher test in Week 8 as they travel to Austin to take on the 6-0 Texas Longhorns, the country's top-ranked team.
Take a look at three reasons why Georgia could win the matchup of top-five ranked opponents below.
3 reasons why the Georgia Bulldogs can beat Texas during Week 8 showdown
#1: Their loss to Alabama has prepared them for the matchup
The Georgia Bulldogs have already had a top-five matchup this season. While they suffered a 41-34 loss to the then-No.4-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, they showed plenty of resilience in the matchup. Georgia fell behind 28-0 with 12:24 remaining in the second quarter. They battled back and took a 34-33 lead with 2:31 left before ultimately losing.
The Bulldogs are unlikely to fall into a four touchdown hole for the second time this season. They are just as unlikely to turn the ball over four times and allow a safety.
#2: Texas has not faced such a tough opponent
The Texas Longhorns have beaten the then-No.10-ranked Michigan Wolverines and Oklahoma Sooners this season.
Michigan's offense ranks just 102nd out of 134 teams in scoring, while Oklahoma ranks 96th. The Mississippi State Bulldogs' 73rd ranked scoring offense is the toughest test the Longhorns defense has faced thus far. Their three other opponents rank even lower than the Wolverines. The Bulldogs have averaged 33.5 points per game, which ranks 35th in the country.
#3: Steve Sarkisian has struggled against top-five opponents
Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian has struggled against top-five ranked opponents in his 11-year coaching career. While he has not faced a top-five ranked opponent in 2024, the Week 8 matchup against the Georgia Bulldogs will be the 11th such game of his career. Sarkisian is 2-8 in the previous ten games, including a 1-3 mark since taking over at Texas in 2021.