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 by way of the primary seven weeks of the season.
Texas, 6-0, has crushed each group 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 sport.
Georgia, then again, had the 41-34 loss in opposition to Alabama again on Sept. 28, the place they did not mount a tricky comeback, falling simply brief with an interception in the long run 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 12 months forward of this weekend’s large matchup.
Texas is barely favored heading into the weekend, as they’re 3.5-point favorites at house over the Bulldogs.
In what is predicted to be a detailed contest, these are three gamers who might make a distinction within the enormous Texas vs. Georgia matchup.
Texas WR Ryan Wingo
As a real freshman, Texas wideout Ryan Wingo has shortly developed a significant position, as he’s the group’s third-leading receiver behind star Isaiah Bond and tight finish Gunnar Helm, who very properly might be a excessive draft choose 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 in opposition to Colorado State with 4 catches for 70 yards, and had a monster sport in opposition to 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 will likely be tasked with an enormous position this weekend, taking part in in opposition to the high-level Bulldogs protection, as he might be a significant difference-maker along with his explosive risk means.
Georgia S KJ Bolden
It isn’t straightforward to begin 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 sport.
By six video games, Bolden has collected seven run stops, whereas being pretty stout in protection, permitting a passer ranking of simply 35.4.
Texas is a group crammed with explosive play weapons, which signifies that Georgia’s secondary will likely 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 in opposition to Mississippi State in a stellar efficiency, the place he gave up simply 13 yards whole in 32 protection snaps.
Bolden will likely 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 checklist 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 pressured fumble in a monster sport 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 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 charge— Brent Rollins (@BrentRollinsPhD) October 15, 2024
“I’m simply getting began too, that’s the loopy factor,” Simmons mentioned again forward of his efficiency in opposition to Mississippi State. “I’m simply now getting began. The extra snug I get in school soccer. I simply received so much 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.
