Another loaded college football Saturday features a heavyweight SEC showdown between Texas and Georgia.
The undefeated Longhorns can tighten their grip on the nation’s No. 1 ranking by defeating their new conference foes at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs can place themselves back in the SEC title running with a monumental road victory.
Georgia hasn’t lost to a team other than Alabama in four years, but ESPN expects that to change this weekend.
Kirby Smart’s squad finds itself in an unfamiliar position as underdogs. Texas is a 3.5-point home favorite at ESPN Bet, but two projection models indicate a larger divide between the two championship contenders.
ESPN gives Texas a 76.4 percent chance of winning on Saturday. One of its writers anticipates the Longhorns covering the spread.
Bill Connelly’s SP+ projection model forecasts a 32-25 Longhorns triumph.
This game marks the first time Georgia isn’t a betting favorite since opening the 2021 season with a 10-3 win over Clemson in Charlotte. Not everyone is embracing the new role.
“I don’t think we’re really worried too much about outside expectations,” Georgia safety Dan Jackson said, per DawgNation’s Connor Riley. “I don’t personally believe that we’re ever an underdog, but that’s kind of how I’ve been seeing (it) throughout my career. I’m not worried about the guys we have in our room one bit.”
Georgia fell to Alabama this season, but Texas hasn’t come particularly close to losing. The Longhorns have scored 259 points to just 38 allowed through six blowout wins, and their closest outcome was a 19-point win at Michigan.
Quinn Ewers returned from a two-game absence to lead Texas to a dominant 34-3 win over Oklahoma. Steve Sarkisian’s team enters Saturday night’s marquee matchup looking like the best team in college football, but Georgia could quickly re-file a claim for that position.
Related: Early Betting Line For Georgia-Texas Game Has Emerged