You would have to squint your eyes pretty hard to see the beginning of a decline in the Georgia Football program, but I’m going to go ahead and squint.

In Georgia’s game last week against Mississippi State, Kirby Smart was involved in a loss-of-control incident when he shoved an MSU player on the sideline on his way to berate his defensive coordinator. Many people have said it was unintentional. Smart said later that he didn’t realize he’d shoved the player. Uh-huh. I’m sure he didn’t set out to shove the player, but I’m sure the player happened to be in his way, and in Smart’s mind, he was thinking, “Get the hell outta my way.”  This was a Georgia home game against a 1-5 team that Georgia won 31-21. I’m wondering if Smart is feeling pressure after losing to Alabama again. He is 1-6 against Alabama since he’s been the Georgia head coach. Can you imagine Nick Saban or Steve Sarkisian behaving this way?

Arrests

Less than two weeks ago, Colbie Young, a Georgia senior wide receiver, was arrested for battery and assault of an unborn child. He allegedly assaulted his pregnant ex-girlfriend. In September, cornerback Daniel Harris was charged with reckless driving for going 106 (41mph over the speed limit). This follows a string of reckless driving arrests of Georgia football players over the past two years. In July, wide receiver Rodarius Thomas was arrested for multiple family violence charges. He was charged with cruelty to children -family violence, a second-degree felony, and two misdemeanor counts of battery-family violence.

All these troubles evoke Urban Meyer’s tenures at Florida and Ohio State. It’s not a good look.

I give Steve Sarkisian the edge in the coaching matchup over Kirby Smart on Saturday night.

Quinn Ewers versus Carson Beck

This matchup on paper looks even to me even though Carson Beck is rated second in Mel Kiper’s   2025 draft class ratings behind Shedeur Sanders and ahead of Ewers, who is fifth.  Beck is a good thrower of the deep ball. He is not a runner but moves around in the pocket well.

I’m a little worried about Ewers after his subpar performance in the Oklahoma game. I don’t think Texas can beat Georgia with a performance like that one. If Ewers struggles early, will Sark hesitate to go to Arch Manning?

Pass Defense

Texas’s pass defense is first in the country, but it hasn’t faced a good quarterback this season. We remember how the Texas pass defense performed against Washington last year, but they’re a different bunch in the secondary this year.

Georgia’s pass defense is 72^nd in the country. For God’s sake, they surrendered 306 yards through the air to Mississippi State and 439 yards passing to Alabama.

Will the game be decided by which team defends the pass the best?

Paul Finebaum

Georgia fans calling into the Finebaum show this week have been talking trash about Texas. Their mantra is that Texas hasn’t played anybody. I think they’re worried.

Not make or break

It probably does not come as a revelation to readers of this Blog that beating Georgia is not a season-maker or breaker for Texas, but to paraphrase David Wooderson, “It would be a lot cooler if they did.”  And losing to Georgia would narrow Texas’ margin for error in making the 12-team playoff. For me, this dovetails into how long Sarkisian would wait to go to Arch Manning if Ewers is struggling Saturday night.

As of this writing, the betting line for this game has moved from Texas -3.5 to Texas -4.5. I liked Texas at -3.5, but not so much at -4.5.

By my estimation, I’ve attended more than 200 Texas Longhorn football games, but since 2020, I have averaged less than two home games a year. I kind of wish I was going to this one.

GO HORNS!

Hook “em,

W.E.

Songs of the week. A Twin Spin