The sport of the week is nearly right here, because the No. 1 Texas Longhorns will host the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs in a battle of the highest SEC powers by the primary seven weeks of the season.
Texas, 6-0, has crushed each workforce they’ve confronted by at the least 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 Purple River Rivalry recreation.
Georgia, then again, had the 41-34 loss towards Alabama again on Sept. 28, the place they did not mount a tricky 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 large matchup.
Texas is barely favored heading into the weekend, as they’re 3.5-point favorites at dwelling over the Bulldogs.
In what is anticipated to be a detailed contest, these are three gamers who may make a distinction within the big Texas vs. Georgia matchup.
Texas WR Ryan Wingo
As a real freshman, Texas wideout Ryan Wingo has rapidly developed a significant function, as he’s the workforce’s third-leading receiver behind star Isaiah Bond and tight finish Gunnar Helm, who very effectively may very well be a excessive draft choose in 2024 as effectively.
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 scorching within the opener towards Colorado State with 4 catches for 70 yards, and had a monster recreation towards UTSA as effectively, 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 might be tasked with a giant function this weekend, taking part in towards the high-level Bulldogs protection, as he may very well be a significant difference-maker along with his explosive risk capability.
Georgia S KJ Bolden
It isn’t simple to begin as a real freshman at a top-five program within the nation, however 2024 five-star security KJ Bolden has been an instantaneous contributor from Day 1, beginning at security alongside star Malaki Starks in each recreation.
Via 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 workforce full of explosive play weapons, which signifies that Georgia’s secondary might be key to slowing down the passing assault for the Longhorns, and Bolden is clearly in that blend, at the same time as 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 might be a vital 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 record after wreaking havoc over the previous two weekends.
Towards 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 just lately, 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 total 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 snug I get in school soccer. I simply acquired 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.
