Texas-Georgia roundtable: Key factors in SEC showdown and fallout from Red River rivalry

The Texas Longhorns host the Georgia Bulldogs in another massive showdown on Saturday, but let’s wrap up the Red River rivalry. In the Brent Venables era, the Sooners have failed to score a touchdown against Texas twice and are 1-2. Will Texas control this rivalry going forward?

Daniel Seahorn (@DanielSeahorn) – I think there will be ups and downs as there usually is in the rivalry. Oklahoma certainly has some things to deal with, but I don’t want to say with certainty that Texas will dominate the matchup going forward.

Gerald Goodridge (@ghgoodridge) – I think it’s difficult to derive a trend from two data points, but the gap seems to be widening a bit at the moment. Expecting Texas to win 10 of the next 15 games seems like an unhealthy expectation and will set you up for disappointment. That being said, I think how the rest of the season plays out for the Sooners will give us a good look at how this program is shaping up, which will ultimately influence how the rivalry plays out.

Cameron Parker (@camerondparker) -Saturday’s win over Oklahoma reminded me of the rivalry from 2010 to 2018, when Bob Stoops and Lincoln Riley controlled this game every year. It was obvious which team had the better talent and training, and both sides knew the result, even when things got close in the first quarter. Unless Venables completely overhauls the offense, I can’t imagine Texas not having an advantage in this game for years to come.

Jacob Neidig (@jneidig_2) – No. This is one of the most competitive and volatile rivalries in the country. It will almost certainly bounce back at some point. In recent years, Oklahoma has struggled with a lack of quality quarterback play. Until Oklahoma figures out the quarterback room, Texas will be in charge, but that won’t be too long in coming.

It was a shaky start for Quinn Ewers against Oklahoma before he calmed down. What can Steve Sarkisian do to calm Quinn against Georgia?

Daniel – I think you need to plan some skills early on and work on building your confidence. Tighten the script and get him in sync early, like we’ve seen him do in big games.

Gerald – ​​I don’t love throwing longer passes to your quarterback who just sat out a month. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Quinn started dishing out after he made the first quick pass downfield. It’s almost like basketball. Go to the line, watch a free throw fall into the basket, get comfortable, and then play your game. I hope we see the same from Texas against UGA.

Cameron – Start Quinn with simple finishes to get him into the rhythm and give him confidence early on. Quinn’s slow start has been a theme of his career at times. I’d like to see Sark attack the Georgia defense early with screens to get Ewers into the rhythm and then start taking deep shots as the game progresses.

Jacob – Add extra protection. Against Oklahoma, Ewers seemed slower to read the field, which led to late throws and missed some high balls due to poor footwork. Both problems can be attributed to some extent to the nervousness in the pocket. I would look for ways to ensure Ewers stays calm in the pocket and stays in control. If he has an RB or TE to help him in pass protection, I think he will be more relaxed and help him stand and deliver.

Is the Texas defense Is it good? Or is it because Texas has never faced an above-average quarterback?

Daniel – I think it’s a little bit of both. Texas is certainly playing at a very high level this year, but they have certainly benefited from mediocre QB play and mediocre position groups that can’t really threaten them. That will change this weekend against Georgia, but I still like how Texas competes against the Dawgs.

Gerald – Texas has been dominant on average to poor offense, which is what elite defense teams do. I can’t put up as good a goal defense against the computer in CFB25, so I can’t really take anything away from them. I think the biggest data point for me is the mindset they show in late games. We’ve seen twice now this year where Texas could have given up a meaningless touchdown in no time, but instead played at full strength and defended their end zone like a castle.

Cameron- I’m cheating by not answering this question, but I’d like to see how they do against Carson Beck, but I’m leaning towards that The Good. Michael Van Buren lit up the Bulldogs’ defense last week, throwing for just 144 yards against Texas. Now it was a very different game plan for Van Buren and he still had a few starts under his belt, but if the Texas defense had holes, we would be seeing them now. We can confirm that the run defense is legit as they have faced two teams ranked in the top 30 in Rush EPA (OU and Michigan) and still held them under 100 yards.

Jacob – Texas hasn’t really been challenged, but this defense has all the hallmarks of a really good unit. The defensive line has significantly stepped up its game in recent weeks, along with the accelerated development of Liona Lefau, all working together to create a front seven that creates mayhem. I worry that a team with elite WR speed could get past the secondary, but no one has done that yet.

What scares you most about the Georgia Bulldogs?

Daniel – They will likely have the most talent in their starting lineup that Texas will see all year. They are well-coached and talented, which always makes them dangerous in any game they play. They’re certainly up for grabs, but they won’t be particularly forgiving on Saturday.

Gerald – It’s Georgia. They rank third in the country in blue-chip percentage at 80% (Texas is at 72%), and Kirby Smart and his staff haven’t forgotten how to coach football. Whether it’s the Jimmys and Joes or the

Cameron- It’s the best coaching staff they’ve seen this season, and despite the loss to Alabama and struggles against Kentucky and Mississippi State, Georgia is still strong and full of talent. It will be a four quarter game.

Jacob – Kirby Smart. Smart isn’t perfect by definition, but he is miles better and more experienced than any head coach Texas has faced this year. As far as scheme goes, he will undoubtedly make several appearances on offense and defense that Sarkisian and Co. haven’t seen on film yet. I have no doubt that he is also using every possible method to persuade the players in training this week to demand every ounce of effort and effort from them.

What scares you most about the Georgia Bulldogs?

Daniel (6-0/3-3 ATS) – Texas 30, Georgia 21. I would accept that, but I think Texas is in a good position to once again show the country that they are serious.

Gerald (6-0/3-3 ATS) Texas 38, Georgia 27. Georgia is just too good for me to believe Texas will run away from this. We have a chance to have an all-timer this weekend.

Cameron (6-0/3-3 ATS) – Texas 35, Georgia 27. The turnovers are once again a problem for Georgia, while the Horns’ defensive line becomes a decisive factor in the second half.

Jacob (6-0/4-2 ATS) – Texas 34, Georgia 24. I think we’re seeing the Texas defense step up multiple times in key scenarios to keep Georgia at bay. Texas at 10.