The No. 2 Texas Longhorns (11-1, 7-1) will have a rematch against the No. 5. Georgia Bulldogs (10-2, 6-2) on Saturday at Mercedez-Bend Stadium in Atlanta. The stakes are high in this one, with the winner claiming the Southeastern Conference Championship. Georgia got the better of the Longhorns in in their first meeting this season, beating the Longhorns 30-15 at Darrell K. Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin. It was a Top-5 matchup then, and it will be a Top-5 matchup once again with the Longhorns hoping for a different outcome this time.
The Bulldogs have two losses on the season, both in SEC play, and made their way to the SEC Championship thanks to Texas A&M’s loss to Auburn on November 23.
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers is still working through an ankle injury suffered in the second quarter of the Kentucky game. The Longhorns need Ewers to play solid, mistake-free football in order for Texas to claim an SEC Championship in their first season in the conference.
Georgia is led by fifth-year senior quarterback Carson Beck. Beck is 23-3 as a starter and has thrown for 3,429 yards this season with 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Three of those interceptions came when Texas and Georgia played back in October.
This year marks the 7th time in eight season that Georgia has played in the SEC Championship Game (2-4 record). The Bulldogs have won 14 SEC titles and are 33-2 in their last 35 SEC Regular season games.
Will Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns achieve their preseason goal of winning an SEC Championship this season? Or will Georgia continue its dominance in the conference and beat Texas for the second time this season?
Our staff weighs in with their thoughts on the outcome of the game and score predictions.
Jameson McCausland (11-1)
The journeys of these two teams since the first matchup in Austin have been interesting. Texas has run the table on the backs of their defense, while Georgia went back to their inconsistent ways, dropping a game to Ole Miss and squeaking out close wins against Georgia Tech and Florida.
I suspect Steve Sarkisian will have a much better offensive plan for this rematch, but Quinn Ewers will again not be 100%, and that is my main concern when facing this Georgia defense. Ewers has to navigate the pocket better than he did in the first matchup.
Carson Beck is in a much better place than when these teams first met. The Texas defense has been playing at an extremely high level but this version of Beck might be the best QB they’ve faced this year.
I have gone back and forth on my pick for this one. The Texas defense will be the best unit on the field Saturday so I’ll lean towards the Longhorns getting their first SEC championship.
Score Prediction: Texas 24, Georgia 21
Aaron Carrara (11-1)
I like where the Texas team is at this point in the postseason and I think mentally they are dialed in. However, the health of Kelvin Banks and Quinn Ewers are factors when discussing potential outcomes for this game. The experience Banks brings against a stout Georgia defense line is invaluable. Likewise, a Quinn Ewers that is not fully healthy is unsettling. He showed he can get the job done last week in College Station under the circumstances, and he will need a repeat performance this week in Atlanta. Trevor Goosby held his own on the line last week with Bank’s injury, but Banks’ experience has proven to be invaluable.
Texas would love nothing more than to avenge the October home loss to the Bulldogs, but they will need to play mistake-free football to do so. Georgia’s offense is still really good, particularly quarterback Carson Beck and the passing game. The Longhorns’ secondary will be tested all night, as the likelhood of Georgia running the ball effectively is slim.
On offense, Texas must pound the rock via workhorse Quentrevion Wisner and Jaydon Blue and stay out of 3rd and long situations. If Texas can control the time of possession, it gives them a tremendous advantage in this game.
The offensive playbook in the SEC Championship game will yield things Sarkisian has not displayed on the field this season. Combined with the play of the defense, I think Texas wants this game extremely bad and they will get it.
Score Prediction: Texas 31, Georgia, 27
Marc Henry (11-1)
The SEC Championship between Texas and Georgia promises to be a hard-fought rematch, with the Longhorns looking to avenge their 30-15 regular-season loss. For Texas, playing a clean game is non-negotiable. Quinn Ewers must limit turnovers, managing the game smartly and avoiding unnecessary risks against Georgia’s opportunistic defense. Controlling the line of scrimmage will be critical, with the offensive line paving the way for Tre Wisner, who has emerged as the team’s bell-cow back. A strong running game will help Texas control the clock and keep Georgia’s high-powered offense off the field. Defensively, the Longhorns need to excel on early downs, forcing the Bulldogs into 3rd-and-long situations where their offense is less effective. Generating consistent pressure on Carson Beck will be vital to disrupting their rhythm and forcing mistakes. If Texas can execute these keys on both sides of the ball, they’ll have a chance to turn the tide and claim the SEC crown.
Score Prediction: Texas 24, Georgia 21
Devon Messinger (11-1)
On Saturday, the Texas Longhorns will travel to the state of Georgia to take on the Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game. Last time the two teams paired up, the Bulldogs took the Longhorns to the woodshed in a 30-15 game. While it appears that the Longhorns have improved (at least slightly) offensively, there is a lot to prove.
Against Georgia, the team’s success will hinge on the performance of the Texas O-Line and Quinn Ewers. While Ewers did have two untimely turnovers against Texas A&M last weekend, he performed well overall. However, can Ewers stay clean in the turnover column and showcase mobility in the pocket against Georgia? Last time around, the Bulldogs defense feasted against the Texas offensive line. If they do so again, the Longhorns will be fighting another uphill battle.
Score Prediction: Texas 27, Georgia 24
Dylan DeRaud (10-2)
The rematch everyone was hoping for is upon us. Both teams have seemed to figure themselves out and who they are since the last matchup. Georgia is lead by a defensive line that has dominated opponents up front and ravaged Texas the first time they played. The Longhorns have since been lead by their o-line, who have created a rejuvenated run game. It’s going to be the battle of the trenches and to see which QB will have more turnovers. I feel this game will be closer and Texas’s offensive line will be out for vengeance.
Score Prediction: Texas 27, Georgia 23
Mitch Lovell (11-1)
The rematch everyone was hoping for is upon us. Both teams have seemed to figure themselves out and who they are since the last matchup. Georgia is lead by a defensive line that has dominated opponents up front and ravaged Texas the first time they played. The Longhorns have since been lead by their o-line, who have created a rejuvenated run game. It’s going to be the battle of the trenches and to see which QB will have more turnovers. I feel this game will be closer and Texas’s offensive line will be out for vengeance.
Score Prediction: Texas 27, Georgia 13
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