The SEC Forum at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

My only analysis is-- this time I hope Georgia doesn't appear to know every play we're about to run, before we even run it.

Which Georgia will show up?  The one that plays like a NC team, or the one that lost to Bama, Ole Miss, and nearly lost to GT? 

They could play three times.  Which is going to make me not like the 12 team playoff too much if so... 

UGA has been playing uninspired.   Slacking, in fact. They "can" beat anyone- but their sense of entitlement, as if other teams should lay down for them, will bite them soon... Texas doesn't seem to have that issue and their running game is legit - and will bail them out when their passing game is stubbed. 

ESPN has seemed to replace the Saban worship with Smart worship... and the refs like them too. A lot.  They benefit from eyes both sharp and dull, in every damn game.  Something really should be done about officiating in this league.  

Texas will win round two methinks.  

Bama will be later, if not UGA once again. 

They could play three times.  Which is going to make me not like the 12 team playoff too much if so...

UGA has been playing uninspired.  Slacking, in fact. They "can" beat anyone- but their sense of entitlement, as if other teams should lay down for them, will bite them soon... Texas doesn't seem to have that issue and their running game is legit - and will bail them out when their passing game is stubbed.

ESPN has seemed to replace the Saban worship with Smart worship... and the refs like them too. A lot.  They benefit from eyes both sharp and dull, in every damn game.  Something really should be done about officiating in this league. 

Texas will win round two methinks. 

Bama will be later, if not UGA once again.

I've never liked the 12-team playoff.  There aren't ever 12 teams that are worthy, it's just too many, and it creates stupid bye-weeks for the top teams.  I was fine with 4, but 8 would have been more than enough, and no stupid byes.

Texas 30.  UGA 13. 

I see what you're trying to do.  Your reverse voodoo jinx isn't going to work here!

Texas has more ways to win this than Georgia; the rematch presents Georgia with multiple headaches against Texas.

How much is Georgia, especially their DL, worn down after GT pushed them to 7 OTs in a hard fought game? Georgia's defense gave up 563 yds to include 260 rushing yards to GT. With the Texas OL playing better since their loss to Georgia, and holding off a furious A&M front seven, I can see Georgia's front seven tiring out as the game moves along, especially against the run.

In watching last Saturday's Texas-TXA&M game, the big success A&M was able to score against Texas was stressing out Quinn Ewers enough to force timely mistakes deep in the Red Zone that allowed the Aggies and their home crowd to shut Texas out in the 2nd half and hang around in a game where Texas dominated the TOP and nearly doubled up A&M on total yards.

Similarly, even if the Bulldogs make Ewers work hard, Texas can shift to their ground game with strong run blocking and their deep RB room, led these last few weeks by Wisner plowing for over 150 yds Vs Kentucky and A&M. If Texas makes a point to run (and they should) I don't see how Georgia's DL stands up to it without fatigue setting in through the 2nd half. Several of the Longhorns WRs disappeared at times Vs A&M and for as good as DBs like Malaki Starks are, I'm not sure WRs like Bolden and Bond (did he play Vs A&M?) remain as quiet.

On the other side of the ball, the Longhorns defense is hardly fooled. It's worth pointing out how well the Texas Linebackers game planned for Marcel Reed, almost always snuffing out Reed's inclinations to tuck and run. By now there is a ton of game tape on Carson Beck's highs and lows for the Texas defense to study all week.

I expect the Longhorns defense to design a strategy that forces Carson Beck to beat them because of Georgia's uninspiring running attack, ranked towards the bottom of the SEC going into the GT game. And the Texas DL is better than I expected after losing All-Americans Byron Murphy II & T'Vondre Sweat, and has played better as the season has gone on, with players like Vernon Broughton emerging.

The wholeness of Texas gives Georgia no room for their season long inconsistencies to strike.

I like both of these teams as well as one can without being a fan, and I typically hardly ever root against them.  This time I'm finding it hard to root for either, purely because I'm a hater.  I don't really want UGA to win because I'm tired of them at this point and I'm not keen on another Bama-type dynasty.  I don't really want Texas to win, because it's their first year here and can you imagine how insufferable an already arrogant fanbase would be if they won it all in their first try?  Plus that just makes all our claims about how those teams would have multiple losses if they played in the SEC look silly, and we can't have that.  Rooting for the meteor is my instinct.  

otoh, I have to sleep next to a Longhorn, and she's quite good with kitchen knives.  Therefore I am rooting for Texas.  Possibly under duress, but nevertheless.