A pair of Top 5 teams will slug it out on Saturday when #1 Texas (6-0) hosts #5 Georgia (5-1), and we have both picks and predictions for you from best betting sites in the US.
Texas is a -3.5 favorite at home in Austin, which seems a little low considering they’ve been dominating everyone on both sides of the ball. Since their loss to Alabama two weeks ago, Georgia bounced back with two not-so-impressive victories against subpar opponents.
The points total is 57.5, which also seems a little high considering Texas has the best defense in the country. Despite numerous predictions of a high-scoring game, we like Texas to cover against Georgia in a moderate-scoring affair.
Georgia (5-1) at Texas (6-0)
| Location | DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, TX |
| Point Spread | Texas -3.5 |
| Total | 56.5 O/U |
| Picks | Texas -3.5, Under 56.5 |
Georgia: Keep Playoff Hopes Alive
The Georgia Bulldogs cannot afford to lose a second game this season if they want to keep their national championship hopes alive. The Bulldogs were ranked #2 before they lost to #4 Alabama a couple of weeks ago as a road favorite, when a second-half comeback came up short. They were down 28-0 and engineered a rally to take the lead in the fourth quarter, but Bama scored late in the game to seal a victory.
A huge win for Georgia, now ranked #5, against the top-ranked team in the country will boost them in the rankings a couple of spots. A loss to Texas could jeopardize a berth in the college football playoffs. The highest-ranked team with two losses is Ole Miss at #18, and #24 Michigan is the only other two-loss team in the AP Top 25 Poll. Georgia has two more games against ranked opponents, including #18 Ole Miss and #11 Tennessee.
The only common opponent for Georgia and Texas is Mississippi State. Texas defeated them 35-13 and allowed a fourth-quarter touchdown when the game was out of reach. Georgia won 41-31 but allowed 21 points in the second half.
Georgia is 1-5 ATS this season, but only 1-1 ATS against ranked teams (#14 Clemson and #4 Alabama). They covered against Clemson to start the season, but failed to cover their next five games. Even though they’re 3-1 in the SEC, they’re 0-4 ATS in conference play. The under is 4-2 in Georgia games this season.
Georgia’s defense looked elite in the first three games of the season when they allowed only 18 total points or six points per game. Ever since the loss to Alabama, the defense allowed 85 points or 28.3 points per game.
On offense, Georgia averages 33.8 points per game. They scored at least 31 points in five of six games. Even against Alabama, they put up 34 points in the loss. Kentucky was previously the toughest defense they faced, and Georgia squeaked out a one-point win despite scoring only 13 points.
Quarterback Carson Beck was a Heisman hopeful entering this season, but his odds took a huge hit after the loss to Alabama. Perhaps if Georgia held on to win that game, Beck would be a Top 5 betting favorite.
Beck is still having an outstanding season. He completed 67.9% of his passes for 1,818 yards, 15 touchdowns, and only five interceptions. Georgia has a strong wide receiver group that includes Dillon Bell (4 TDs), Arian Smith (412 yards, 3 TDs), and Dominic Lovett (27 catches, 302 yards, 2 TDs). Running back Trevor Etienne leads Georgia with 335 rushing yards and four touchdowns, averaging 5.3 yards per carry.
Texas: Keep Rolling
The Texas Longhorns are one of 11 remaining undefeated teams, and they face their toughest matchup of the season. If they can defeat Georgia, they have only one more ranked opponent—Texas A&M—in the final week of the season.
The Longhorns dominate on both sides of the ball. Their defense is ranked #1 in the nation, allowing only 6.3 points per game, and their high-octane offense is ranked #7, generating 43.2 ppg.
Texas allowed Mississippi State to score a meaningless touchdown two weeks ago in a 35-13 victory, but those 13 points were the most they’ve allowed this season. Texas held four opponents to seven or fewer points, held three teams under three points, and recorded one shutout.
Texas is 5-1 ATS this season, and they covered the point spread in both victories against ranked teams (#10 Michigan and #18 Oklahoma). The under is 3-2-1 for Texas this season.
Texas has an elite quarterback with Quinn Ewers. If anything happens and Ewers gets injured again, the Longhorns have one of the best backups in all of college football with Arch Manning (901 passing yards, 9 TDs, 3 rushing TDs). When Ewers missed two games earlier in the season with an oblique strain, Manning stepped in without skipping a beat.
Ewers is completing a career-best 72.2% of his passes this season, with nine touchdowns and three interceptions in four games. He averages 222.5 passing yards per game, and his QBR rating is ranked #12.
Texas has a dangerous duo in their backfield. Running back Quintrevion Wisner leads Texas in rushing with 278 yards, averaging 6.2 yards per carry with two touchdowns. Jaydon Blue is second with 268 yards and four touchdowns.
Wide receivers Isaiah Bond caught 21 passes for 369 yards and three touchdowns, and Matthew Golden has 19 receptions and three touchdowns. Tight end Gunnar Helm is tied for the team lead with 21 receptions and is second overall with 311 yards and two touchdowns.
In their two games against ranked opponents, Texas averaged 32.5 ppg. In four games against non-ranked opponents, Texas averaged 48.3 ppg.
