No. 2 Texas can be out for revenge in opposition to No. 5 Georgia in Saturday’s SEC Championship in Atlanta with a College Football Playoff first-round bye on the road.
Georgia defeated Texas 30-15 in Austin on Oct. 19. It was a Bulldogs resume-defining win for the Bulldogs and the one lack of the season for the Longhorns. Since then, Georgia has misplaced to Ole Miss and barely survived an eight-overtime thriller in opposition to Georgia Tech. Meanwhile, Texas defeated in-state rival Texas A&M, the primary recreation between the 2 in 13 years, to clinch a spot within the SEC title recreation.
Texas and Georgia ought to each be within the 12-team playoff no matter Saturday’s consequence, however an opportunity at a bye and a better path to the last word aim of a nationwide championship retains the stakes excessive.
As it stands now, Georgia would host No. 10 Indiana within the first spherical of the CFP, however a 3rd loss might probably ship the Bulldogs on the highway subsequent week.
Follow together with LIVE UPDATES as Texas battles Georgia within the SEC Championship Game on Saturday.
Texas vs. Georgia: Need to know
Key damage: Kirby Smart stated Thursday he was “hopeful” working again Trevor Etienne would be capable to play in opposition to the Longhorns after lacking the Bulldogs’ final three video games. Etienne had an enormous recreation in opposition to Texas of their first assembly, totaling three touchdowns and 87 yards. Georgia’s run recreation has by no means met preseason expectations however getting Etienne again with Nate Frazier can be massive for an offense that does not need to overly burden Carson Beck.
Rollercoaster QB expertise: Speaking of Beck, the primary go round with the Longhorns did not go so properly even when Georgia nonetheless gained. He threw three interceptions as a part of a four-game midseason tailspin that noticed him throw extra interceptions (9) than touchdowns (5). After a loss to Ole Miss in Oxford, Beck has pulled it again collectively and has 941 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and nil interceptions in Georgia’s final three video games. Which model of Beck exhibits up in opposition to Texas will play an enormous position within the ultimate consequence.
Arch package deal: Against Texas A&M, Steve Sarkisian lastly deployed an Arch Manning QB package deal that utilized the third-generation star’s legs for the sport’s first landing. With Quinn Ewers banged up within the Kentucky recreation, it made sense to go to Manning within the pink zone to open up a special a part of the offense. With the package deal’s success in opposition to the Aggies and the necessity to shield a hampered Ewers, there might be extra Manning — particularly within the run recreation — in opposition to a Bulldogs protection that held Texas to solely 29 dashing yards within the first recreation between the 2.
How to observe Texas vs. Georgia dwell
Date: Saturday, Dec. 7 | Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium — Atlanta, Georgia
TV: ABC | Live stream: fubo (Try without cost)
Texas vs. Georgia prediction, picks
It’s all the time difficult to beat a staff twice in a single season – Georgia has even been the beneficiary of that fact in opposition to Alabama previously – and Texas can be able to go this time round. It acquired the unhealthy efficiency out of its system in what was one of many greatest sports activities weekends in Austin historical past. Texas protection seems very good proper now, the offense much less so, and may be capable to harass Carson Beck once more. It’ll be very shut and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium crowd can be decidedly in Georgia’s favor, however I just like the Longhorns to win Round 2. Pick: Texas -2.5
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