Texas vs Georgia: 5 bold predictions for SEC blockbuster of Week 8 college football
As the Texas Longhorns and Georgia Bulldogs prepare for the game which could reset the balance of power in the SEC, there's plenty to wonder about. Which highly regarded QB will play better? Can Georgia's defense give a better effort than last week or against 'Bama? Is Texas ready for a challenge?
Here are five bold predictions on what will happen in Week 8's SEC blockbuster.
Texas vs. Georgia: 5 bold predictions
#1. Georgia wins.
The Bulldogs aren't often an underdog, and they're rarely as unimpressive as they've been throughout much of the first half of the 2024 season. But Kirby Smart is arguably the best coach in America for a reason, and it's his ability to mold his team over the course of the season.
Consider it the anti-rat poison philosophy. Nick Saban used to virtually run the other direction from praise of his team, terming it rat poison. The converse is that Georgia has played badly, has looked bad, and is nearly an afterthought in this game. Kirby Smart loves that challenge and he'll have Georgia ready to play.
#2. Both Texas QBs will shine.
One of the low-key questions around the game is how set is Quinn Ewers at QB? It's generally not advisable to replace a talented and experienced veteran starter with a relative neophyte. But who says Steve Sarkisian is playing by the book here? Sark's game plan will have a role for both players.
While Ewers will play the majority of the snaps, Manning will also have a significant role in the game and will do nothing to quiet a possible QB controversy for the Longhorns. Could Texas be setting up for another Hurts/Tagovailoa-type finish to the season? Time will tell.
#3. Carson Beck will play his best game of the season.
Texas has amazing pass defense stats, but its done it largely by playing awful passing offenses. Of the teams played by Texas, only Mississippi State is in the top 95 of FBS teams in passer ratings.
Enter Carson Beck, a Heisman hopeful who has had a ho-hum season for the Bulldogs. Beck has had a pair of 400-yard games this year but threw all five of his interceptions in those games. Beck has yet to top 9.7 yards per pass attempt on the season. He topped that total six times last season, with three of those games coming against teams in the top 20.
#4. Texas's lack of running experience hurts.
While Texas's passers are solid, the lack of experience at running back could finally pop up for the Longhorns. CJ Baxter and Christian Clark both suffered season-ending injuries back in preseason camp. Texas's top rusher has been sophomore Quintrevion Wisner. Wisner had 12 carries last year and was probably fourth on the Texas depth chart pre-injuries.
Georgia's aggressive tactics will make Wisner deal with blitz pick-up responsibilities in a way he hasn't seen before. The Longhorns have plenty of offensive weapons, but a tough Georgia defense figures to be punishing on a backfield that's deep into the Texas pre-season depth chart.
#5. UGA has fourth down magic
Georgia has a secret weapon in its pocket – fourth down glory. The Bulldogs have gone for 11 fourth down conversions so far this season and converted 10 of them. Only Minnesota (7-for-7) and Cincinnati (6-for-6) have been better this year.
Meanwhile, Texas is No. 43 nationally in fourth down defense at an adequate, but not brilliant 7-for-15. In what figures to be a close game, Georgia's fourth down advantage feels likely to prove the difference late.
Final Prediction: Georgia: 35, Texas 31
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