No. 5 Georgia (5-1, 3-1 SEC) is set to face off against No. 1 Texas (6-0, 2-0) this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET, an exciting matchup that will be broadcast on ABC.
According to BetMGM, Texas holds a slight edge as the favorite by 3.5 points.
In terms of the historical context, Texas currently leads the series 4-1.
This game holds significant implications, particularly as it marks the first encounter between top-five ranked teams in Austin since Texas, then ranked No. 2, squared off against No. 1 Ohio State back in 2006. For Georgia, a victory is essential to maintain their competitiveness in the SEC standings. A second loss would threaten their chances of not just participating in the conference championship but could also impact their prospects in the expanded College Football Playoff.
A pivotal matchup to watch will be between Texas’s secondary and Georgia quarterback Carson Beck. The senior quarterback represents a significant challenge, as he is the most formidable quarterback the Longhorns have faced this season. Texas has successfully contained inexperienced quarterbacks from Mississippi State and Oklahoma in their recent games, but tackling Beck—who boasts a notable 18-2 record as a starter, including a solid 6-2 against ranked opponents—will be a different challenge altogether.
In terms of key players, Georgia’s running back Trevor Etienne is already stepping up into a lead role, especially with Branson Robinson sidelined due to a knee injury suffered during last week’s contest against Mississippi State. Despite being a transfer from Florida and leading the Bulldogs with 335 rushing yards and four touchdowns, Etienne managed only 35 yards on 11 carries in his latest outing.
On the Texas side, quarterback Quinn Ewers has returned to action after an oblique injury that sidelined him for some time. He achieved success against Oklahoma last week but openly acknowledges the need for improvement. Texas will be relying on him to be at his peak form, especially in what may turn into a high-scoring affair against Georgia.
Statistics paint a fascinating picture as Texas stands firm at No. 1 in both total and scoring defense. Remarkably, the Longhorns have allowed only three touchdowns during the entire season, yielding an average of just 6.33 points per game. Notably, opponents have managed to force four turnovers within Texas territory, yet the Longhorns have maintained a perfect shutout following those turnovers.
Georgia continues to hold the distinction of being ranked in the AP Top 10 for an impressive 57 consecutive weeks, the longest active streak in college football today. This matchup will be the first regular-season encounter between the Bulldogs and Longhorns since 1958, a game in which Texas emerged victorious, 13-8, despite a notable fourth-quarter performance from Georgia’s backup quarterback, the future Pro Football Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton. Moreover, Georgia’s senior class enters this game with an impressive 47-3 record, with their only losses coming against Alabama.