One of the most anticipated games of the college football season kicks off Saturday, when No. 1-ranked Texas hosts No. 5 Georgia in a matchup of CFB heavyweights.
Texas (6-0) got its first taste of the College Football Playoff last season but lost in the semifinals. The Longhorns are trying to reach the level of Georgia (5-1), which has won two of the last three CFP championships.
The winner of Saturday’s game in Austin, Texas, will have a direct flight to this season’s 12-team CFP field. Players on both teams will have a chance to become integral parts of that. Because this is such a big game, the best online sportsbooks have listed player props.
Here are our best game and player prop picks for Georgia vs. Texas.
Texas QB Quinn Ewers 275+ passing yards
Best odds: +130 at DraftKings Sportsbook
Quinn Ewers has grown into what Texans fans hoped he would when he transferred back to the Longhorn State. Ewers led the Longhorns to their first CFP berth last season, and there are high hopes of breaking through and winning a CFP championship this season.
Based on Ewers’ track record against top teams, the Longhorns could be well on their way.
His slow start against No. 18 Oklahoma last weekend can be forgiven since it was his first game action in four weeks. He picked it up as the game went on, and Texas sailed to a big win.
Now that Ewers got his feet wet, he should be ready to rock and roll against Georgia on Saturday.
The Bulldogs’ defense has a reputation as one of the best in the country, but it hasn’t been up to that standard this season. Georgia ranks 20th in points allowed per game and 27th in yards allowed per game.
Georgia’s defense did not record a sack against Alabama or Mississippi State. The Bulldogs have six quarterback hurries this season, but five came in one game against Kentucky. They have only one combined in their last three games against Alabama, Auburn and Mississippi State. They have forced three fumbles this season – all against Kentucky.
Texas has one of the best offensive lines in the nation. That spells trouble for Georgia’s overrated defense. Expect Ewers to soar Saturday. We’re being conservative with this prop pick, but we wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to bet Ewers’ passing yards at 300+ for +245 odds or 325+ for +500 odds.
Georgia QB Carson Beck passing yards over 264.5
Best odds: -114 at FanDuel Sportsbook
A slow start dropped Georgia QB Carson Beck from a Heisman Trophy contender to outside the top five of the odds boards. If you look at his last few games, though, he has been on fire. This is the time to pounce.
Beck erupted in the second half against Alabama and finished with 439 passing yards. Against Mississippi State last week, he had 459 passing yards. Beck always has been efficient, and now he’s adding big plays to his skillset.
Texas has the best defense in the nation in points allowed per game and yards allowed per game. The Longhorns are second in passing yards allowed per game.
But they haven’t faced any elite quarterbacks. The best passing performance against Texas was Michigan’s Davis Warren throwing for 204 yards on Sept. 7. Warren started three games for Michigan but was replaced as the starter after throwing three interceptions against Arkansas State the week following the matchup with Texas.
In other words, facing Beck and Georgia will be another world for Texas’ defense. The Longhorns are probably still a great defense, but it will be a major learning curve on Saturday against the Bulldogs. Look for Beck to pile up some stats in Austin.
