What’s the Line? (vs. Texas)

According to the current BetMGM odds, Georgia is a 6.5-point favorite over Texas with a point total of 48.5 for their game this Saturday night at Sanford Stadium. The schools are facing off for the third time in less than 13 months, with the Bulldogs winning both games straight up last season as an underdog against the spread (ATS).  

Matchup: Georgia is 8-1 straight up and 4-5 ATS this season. Last Saturday, the Bulldogs defeated Mississippi State, 41-21, on the road, covering as a 9.5-point favorite. Georgia has now covered four out of its last five games after going 3-15 ATS dating back to the second game of last season. Coming off an open week, Texas enters the game 7-2 straight up and 2-6-1 ATS. In their last game, the Longhorns defeated Vanderbilt, 34-31, at home, pushing as a 3-point favorite. Texas’ ATS mark this season is currently the worst in the SEC and includes 0-4 in true road games at the opposition’s home stadium.

Coaching Trends: Georgia’s second win over Texas last season in the SEC Championship Game was Kirby Smart’s sixth outright upset as the Bulldogs’ head coach in 13 games regarded as the underdog. Entering Saturday, Smart is 9-0 straight up and 7-2 ATS in nine final regular-season SEC games. Entering this game, Steve Sarkisian is 11-15-1 ATS vs. ranked teams and 8-14 ATS in true road games in his four-plus seasons as Texas’ head coach.

Series History: Georgia is 3-4 straight up and 4-3 ATS all-time vs. Texas. Last season, the Bulldogs defeated the Longhorns, 30-15, as a 5-point underdog in Austin in October, followed by winning, 22-19, in overtime as a 3-point underdog in Atlanta’s SEC title game. The combined points for each of Georgia’s upset wins over Texas last season went Under the point total. This Saturday’s eighth all-time meeting between the two schools will be played at the series’ seventh different site. Georgia has only been favored twice in the previous seven meetings, losing both games outright by at least a touchdown.