Southeastern Conference championship game
Texas (11-1) vs. Georgia (10-2)
Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at 4 p.m. ET
Atlanta, Mercedes-Benz Stadium
TV: ABC
Early line: Texas -1.5 (FanDuel)
What’s at stake:
Texas is in the playoffs no matter what happens in the pro-Georgia environment. But the Longhorns are craving the chance to sweep the SEC (regular season, conference title game) in their first season in the league. Getting that bye is a big deal and Texas also would like to avenge that 30-15 home loss to the Bulldogs on Oct. 19.
A third loss is unlikely to leave Georgia on the outside of the 12-team mix but the Bulldogs certainly would be better served to win and gain the bye. A second impressive showing against Texas is something that would rate as a big help after the Bulldogs gave a less-than-impressive performance in the regular-season finale.
How they got here:
Texas routed Michigan and Oklahoma in the first half of the season before it was fully understood that neither team was all that great this season. The loss to Georgia was shocking as the Longhorns easily were handled and looked like an overrated squad. Texas recovered to win five straight games with three of them being decided by 10 or fewer points.
The Bulldogs opened the season with an impressive rout of Clemson but a late September loss to Alabama displayed some defensive warts. Right when it looked like Georgia was back on track, Ole Miss put on a big licking in the second week of November but the Bulldogs survived that and landed a spot in the SEC title game two weeks later. Another eyesore was Friday’s win against Georgia Tech as the Bulldogs trailed by 17 points before rallying for a 44-42, eight-overtime victory.
Names to know:
–Georgia
QB Carson Beck
Has passed for 3,429 passing yards and 28 TDs but has been picked off 12 times after throwing just six last season.
CB Malaki Starks
He’s a finalist for the Thorpe Award (top defensive back) and regularly shuts down his side of the field.
LB Jalon Walker
Solid blitzer has 5.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries while being one of the leaders of the defense.
Texas
QB Quinn Ewers
He manages the game well and has been solid with 2,307 yards and 24 touchdowns against just seven interceptions.
MLB Anthony Hill Jr.
Leads the Longhorns with 84 tackles, 15 stops for losses, 7.5 sacks and four forced fumbles during a standout campaign.
EDGE Colin Simmons
Freshman has 11.5 tackles for losses, including seven sacks, while helping the unit allow just 11.7 points per game.
Xs and Os:
Ewers was dealing with a sprained ankle in Saturday’s 17-7 victory over Texas A&M and it wasn’t hard to think about how the Longhorns have a backup who is better than most schools’ top quarterback. But if Ewers were to sustain a setback, Arch Manning (nine TDs in 90 passing attempts) is just as capable of leading Texas to victory this week as well as in the playoffs.
The Bulldogs don’t have an electric ground game so the offense revives around Beck, who also misses not having a Brock Bowers-type target to rely on. Defensively, it’s strange seeing Georgia allowing 31 or more points on three occasions and 20.5 per game overall.
Prediction:
Texas 26, Georgia 24
–Field Level Media
