State of Play: A lot at stake for Georgia against Texas

It’s quite simple. If Georgia defeats Texas, it is all but certain to reach the College Football Playoff. The Bulldogs are set to play their final SEC game and will end conference play with a 7-1 record if they are able to knock off the Longhorns.

Georgia’s final two games are against Charlotte and Georgia Tech. The Bulldogs can probably afford one loss to either Texas or Georgia Tech. Losing to both would likely knock them out of the playoff picture. 

This is stating the obvious, but this game is incredibly important when it comes to the postseason. Texas already has two losses and can’t afford another, especially since one of them is to Florida 

With the ramifications of this game, it feels like the playoff has already started.  

The key to the game 

Conventional wisdom would suggest this would fall on Georgia’s run game given the tough challenge it will face from Texas’ run defense. But, no. Georgia’s offense has found numerous ways to win games.

In its only loss against Alabama? The Bulldogs allowed 13 third down conversions and it couldn’t get off the field on Alabama’s final possession. 

While I’ve written the defense off previously, this is its time to shine. And specifically it’s going to come down to making Arch Manning look pedestrian again. Manning threw for 346 yards against Mississippi State and 328 against Vanderbilt. Most importantly, the defense must get out to a fast start and not allow Georgia to get behind three scores like Vanderbilt did. 

With Georgia’s recent defensive resurgence, perhaps a third straight strong showing is possible. If Georgia can limit Manning through the air, it will be in excellent shape toward the end. 

SEC Everest

Chasing the summit: Texas A&M, Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss, Texas

A camp behind: Vanderbilt, Oklahoma

Advanced base camp: Tennessee, Missouri

Base camp: No one 

Quitting time: LSU

Back to reality: Mississippi State

Wishes it could play Florida every week: Kentucky 

End the season now: South Carolina, Auburn

Roadkill: Arkansas

It can’t get any worse, right?: Florida

Games of note

No. 11 Oklahoma at No. 4 Alabama: The Crimson Tide have more than hit their stride since a season-opening loss to Florida State. The Sooners are in need of a win to remain in the playoff hunt. 

No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 22 Pittsburgh: Leave it to the Fighting Irish to drop two early games and find themselves in the middle of the playoff hunt. However, a loss to Pittsburgh could put those postseason hopes in jeopardy.