Georgia vs. Texas Odds, Best Bets: Longhorns Favored Over No. 5 Bulldogs

Georgia vs. Texas Betting Preview

Georgia Bulldogs Betting News, Analysis

Georgia (5-1, 3-1 SEC) is the clear underdog in this game not only because of its issues against Alabama in a highly scrutinized loss as slight favorites back in September, but because of its struggles in a couple other games this season.

UGA pulled away from now-No. 10 Clemson in its season opener in a 34-3 win that looks more impressive every week. But otherwise, even if we forgive the road loss to the Crimson Tide, Georgia has been underwhelming -- at least by this program's standards -- in all three of its SEC wins this year.

The Bulldogs were fortunate to escape Lexington with a 13-12 win over Kentucky back in Week 3, and they scored just 14 points in the first half of a 31-13 win over Auburn at home on October 5.

Georgia wasn't dominant against Mississippi State at home last week, either, as it entered the fourth quarter with just a 10-point lead.

For everyone but Georgia, winning SEC games by double-digits is hardly concerning. Still, this offense clearly misses the veteran talent it lost at tight end (Brock Bowers), WR (Ladd McConkey) and RB (Kendall Milton and Daijun Edwards) this offseason.

Defensively, the Bulldogs have plenty of future NFL talent, as usual. But Georgia was gashed for one big play after another by Alabama, especially in the first half. This D was also far from suffocating the last two weeks, especially in last Saturday's 41-31 win over Mississippi State, as MSU QB Michael van Buren Jr. threw for 300-plus yards and 3 TDs.

Even with a loss on Saturday, Georgia will likely be favored in the rest of the games on its schedule. So far this year, though, these are not the dominant Dawgs we watched run roughshod over the SEC in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Texas Longhorns Betting News, Analysis

Texas lost as much talent from its 2023 roster to the NFL as any team in the nation last offseason. A total of 11 Longhorns were drafted last April, to be exact (including two first-rounders and three second-rounders), but you wouldn't know it from the way this team has started this season.

Coming into the year, Texas seemingly had two tough early-season tests before its big SEC matchup with Georgia. But neither Michigan nor Oklahoma were to able to challenge the Longhorns.

Texas dominated the Wolverines 31-12 in Ann Arbor in Week 2 in a game that was even more lopsided than the 19-point margin of victory indicated. Last week's Red River Rivarly was also all Texas from start to finish, as the Longhorns built a 21-3 halftime lead and cruised thanks to a dominant defensive showing.

Sarkisian's squad lacks household names outside of QBs Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning, but the veteran O-line features two likely first round draft picks at the tackle positions (Kelvin Banks Jr. and Cam Williams).

If there are holes on this roster, they've yet to be exposed, even after Ewers missed multiple games due to an abdominal strain, and two RBs, Christian Clark and C.J. Baxter, were ruled out for the year with long-term injuries in preseason camp.

Georgia vs. Texas Prediction, Best Bets

On the surface, counting out Smart's team seems like a bad idea given recent history.

Nevertheless, Georgia's offense has been too inconsistent this season to trust it to outscore the loaded Longhorns in Austin. Dating back to last year, Ewers and Co. have shown they can put up big numbers against anyone.

This team outscored Alabama 34-24 in Tuscaloosa last September and also had no trouble scoring against Washington in a 37-31 loss in last year's CFP semifinal.

This year, say what you will about Oklahoma and Michigan's offenses (apparently, neither are good), but according to ESPN's SP+, the Sooners have the 12th-best D in the country, the Wolverines defense is No. 9 in the nation. Texas hung 24 first-half points on Michigan before hitting the brakes after halftime, and the Horns shook off some early rust from Ewers to nearly outgain OU 2-to-1 last Saturday.

It's fair to question how the Texas defense will fare against a Georgia O that still has a high ceiling, but this offense is as proven as any unit in the country.

That should be enough for Texas to score a massive statement win at home over Georgia by a touchdown or so, even if the Dawgs are at their best. And if UGA isn't at its best for four quarters, Texas might even break this thing open for a lopsided final score.

We'll lay the points with Ewers and UT coming through in a big way. We also find a small play (like a half-unit), on Texas to win this game by 10 points awfully tempting.

Georgia vs. Texas Best Bets

• Texas -4.5 (-118 at FanDuel) 1 unit
• Texas alt spread -9.5 (+146 at FD) 0.5 units

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