The final bowl game of the college football season will pit SEC stalwart Georgia (11-2) against a Texas (9-4) team making it's first New Year's Six bowl appearance in a decade.
Jake Fromm leads the Bulldogs at quarterback, having thrown for 2,537 and 27 touchdowns to five interceptions for the regular season. Fromm's top targets, wide receivers Mecole Hardman (529 yards) and Riley Ridley (509) yards, combined for 15 touchdowns while receivers Jeremiah Holloman, Terry Godwin, and tight end Issac Nauta added 11 more.
Despite Georgia's success through the air, it is the Bulldogs ability on the ground that will be relied on in the Sugar Bowl. Running back D'Andre Swift's 1,037 rushing yards are nearly equal to the combined total of Georgia's top two receivers, but the team's second-leading rusher, Elijah Holyfield, has 956 yards. Swift and Holyfield combined for 17 touchdowns in the regular season, too.
The Longhorns defense ranks No. 36 in the country against the run, allowing 135.9 yards per game. However, Georgia's rushing attack averaged 251.6 yards per game, good for No. 12 nationally. Those numbers will add pressure on Texas' defense where linebackers Gary Johnson and Anthony Wheeler lead the team in total tackles.
For the Longhorns offense, success will likely be found through the air. Sophomore QB Sam Ehlinger has thrown for 3,123 and 25 touchdowns, most often to top receivers Lil'Jordan Humphrey (1,109 yards, 9 TDs) and Colin Johnson (945 yards, 7 TDs). Running backs Tre Watson and Keaontay Ingram both are approaching 700 yards for the season, combining for six touchdowns, but Ehlinger is also a threat on the ground.
Ehlinger leads the Longhorns in rushing touchdowns with 13 and is third on the team for rushing attempts with 143. On those attempts, the QB has earned 443 yards.
The good news for Texas is that Georgia corner Deandre Baker will not play in the Sugar Bowl as he prepares for the NFL Draft, making things slightly easier for the Longhorns passing game. However, the Bulldogs have plenty of talent on the defensive side with four players totaling over 50 tackles each in the regular season.
2019 Allstate Sugar Bowl
Location: Mercedes-Benz Superdome — New Orleans, Louisiana
Date: Tuesday, January 1
Time: 8:45 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN | Live stream: WatchESPN
Satellite Radio: ESPN Radio, Texas Feed: ESPN Xtra, UGA Feed: ESPNU Radio
Odds: Georgia -13; Over/Under: 58
Prediction:
Allen Kenney (Athlon Sports): Georgia 34, Texas 27
"Motivation could play a huge role in determining the outcome of this game. Texas hasn't made an appearance in a high-profile bowl in nearly a decade. Getting his team fired up shouldn't pose much of a problem for UT head coach Tom Herman.
The Bulldogs are in a trickier spot. Georgia came achingly close to winning a national championship a year ago. A spot in the Sugar Bowl with nothing else on the line has to feel anticlimactic for the squad. If that's the case, don't be surprised if Texas engineers a validating win for the Herman regime.
That being said, the actual football factors in this game all line up in favor of the Bulldogs. Assuming the Longhorns are getting UGA's best effort — or even a pretty good one — they will have a tough time keeping Georgia's offensive line from owning them up front. Mix in UGA QB Jake Fromm's precision passing and the Bulldogs will put the pressure on UT to keep up."
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