The sport of the week is sort of right here, because the No. 1 Texas Longhorns will host the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs in a battle of the highest SEC powers via the primary seven weeks of the season.
Texas, 6-0, has crushed each staff they’ve confronted by no less than three scores, whereas dethroning a pair of ranked opponents already in Michigan and Oklahoma. The Longhorns defeated with the Sooners in a 34-3 blowout final weekend within the Crimson River Rivalry recreation.
Georgia, however, had the 41-34 loss towards Alabama again on Sept. 28, the place they did not mount a troublesome comeback, falling simply brief with an interception ultimately zone to seal the sport.
Since then, they Bulldogs have crushed Auburn 31-13 earlier than having a 41-31 nearer win over Mississippi State to enhance to 5-1 on the yr forward of this weekend’s massive matchup.
Texas is barely favored heading into the weekend, as they’re 3.5-point favorites at residence over the Bulldogs.
In what is predicted to be an in depth contest, these are three gamers who may make a distinction within the large Texas vs. Georgia matchup.
Texas WR Ryan Wingo
As a real freshman, Texas wideout Ryan Wingo has rapidly developed a significant position, as he’s the staff’s third-leading receiver behind star Isaiah Bond and tight finish Gunnar Helm, who very properly could possibly be a excessive draft decide in 2024 as properly.
Catching 13 passes for 296 yards and two touchdowns, Wingo has been a big-play machine, which makes his manufacturing extra hit-or-miss.
The true freshman began sizzling within the opener towards Colorado State with 4 catches for 70 yards, and had a monster recreation towards UTSA as properly, going for 3 catches, 127 yards, and a rating within the blowout win.
This previous weekend, Wingo caught a 44-yard cross, ending the day with two catches for 49 yards, whereas serving as an explosive machine but once more.
Standing at 6’2”, 210 kilos, Wingo shall be tasked with a giant position this weekend, enjoying towards the high-level Bulldogs protection, as he could possibly be a significant difference-maker together with his explosive menace potential.
Georgia S KJ Bolden
It isn’t straightforward to start out as a real freshman at a top-five program within the nation, however 2024 five-star security KJ Bolden has been a right away contributor from Day 1, beginning at security alongside star Malaki Starks in each recreation.
By six video games, Bolden has collected seven run stops, whereas being pretty stout in protection, permitting a passer score of simply 35.4.
Texas is a staff stuffed with explosive play weapons, which implies that Georgia’s secondary shall be key to slowing down the passing assault for the Longhorns, and Bolden is clearly in that blend, whilst a real freshman.
He notched his first profession interception this previous weekend towards Mississippi State in a stellar efficiency, the place he gave up simply 13 yards whole in 32 protection snaps.
Bolden shall be a important piece of Georgia’s protection this weekend, as they appear to make a significant upset and re-claim the highest spot within the AP Prime 25.
Texas DE Collin Simmons
Whereas he isn’t beginning for the Longhorns, true freshman defensive finish Collin Simmons deserves to be on this checklist after wreaking havoc over the previous two weekends.
In opposition to Mississippi State, Simmons performed a season-high 41 snaps, recording two sacks, 5 run stops, and a compelled fumble in a monster recreation for the Longhorns.
Then, this previous weekend, Simmons had two pressures on simply 10 pass-rushing snaps, whereas recording 4 extra run-stops on 10 run downs.
The five-star true freshman has discovered a groove right here not too long ago, placing collectively quite a lot of good performances in a row, whereas exhibiting his capabilities each as a run defender and a cross rusher.
Texas true freshman edge defender Colin Simmons in his first 6 video games:
150 snaps
89.0 general grade
15 whole QB pressures, together with 4 sacks
21.4% cross rush win price— Brent Rollins (@BrentRollinsPhD) October 15, 2024
“I’m simply getting began too, that’s the loopy factor,” Simmons stated again forward of his efficiency towards Mississippi State. “I’m simply now getting began. The extra comfy I get in faculty soccer. I simply obtained lots in me.”
Georgia will look to be a number of on offense, and it’ll be as much as key gamers like Simmons to assist cease that offensive assault and harass quarterback Carson Beck within the pocket.