Georgia Football Week 13: Expert picks and predictions (UGA vs Texas AM)

The UGA Wire staff has put together its weekly Georgia football game, stat and score predictions prior to Saturday’s matchup against TAMU.

[jwplayer awrcuYrl-er0jUifI]

The Georgia Bulldogs secured their trip to the 2019 SEC Championship game last week with a seven point victory at Auburn.  The #4 Bulldogs have just one more SEC matchup this Saturday in Athens against Texas A&M.

The un-ranked Aggies are not to be taken lightly.  They’ve had one of the hardest schedules in college football and will be playing four top 5 teams, including three #1 teams (Alabama, Clemson, LSU).

Jimbo Fisher’s squad has lost to Alabama, Auburn and Clemson, but have steamrolled just about everybody else.  Those are three very quality losses that make it harder to predict what the outcome of the Georgia game will be.

The two teams kickoff at 3:30 p.m. EST this Saturday on Dooley Field and should be the Dawgs last test before meeting LSU in Atlanta.

The UGA Wire staff has put together a list of score, stat and game predictions ahead of Saturdays matchup.

Here are the picks:

The money makers:

#4 Georgia (-13.5) vs Texas A&M

Game pick: If you think Georgia will win and cover, Georgia. If you think Georgia will win, but not cover, Georgia*. If you think Texas A&M will win, Texas A&M.  (Georgia -13.5)

Jackson Fryburger: UGAWire.com- Georgia

Joe Vitale: UGAWire.com-  Georgia

James Morgan: UGAWire.com- Georgia

Jackson Stone: UGAWire.com- Georgia 

Henry Sillen: UGAWire.com- Georgia

Garrett Shearman: UGAWire.com- Georgia*

Over/under (45.5) 

If you think the total will go over, over. If you think the total will go under, under.

Jackson Fryburger: UGAWire.com- Under

Joe Vitale: UGAWire.com-  Under

James Morgan: UGAWire.com- Over

Jackson Stone: UGAWire.com- Under

Henry Sillen: UGAWire.com- Over

Garrett Shearman: UGAWire.com- Under

Score prediction:

Jackson Fryburger: UGAWire.com- Georgia 31, Texas A&M 14

Joe Vitale: UGAWire.com- Georgia 30, Texas A&M 13

James Morgan: UGAWire.com- Georgia 29, Texas A&M 17

Jackson Stone: UGAWire.com- Georgia 34 , Texas A&M 10

Henry Sillen: UGAWire.com- Georgia 34, Texas A&M 17

Garrett Shearman: UGAWire.com- Georgia 27, Texas A&M 16

Odds via BetMGM. Access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 5 p.m.

Want to get in on the action? Place your bet now at BetMGM.

5 reasons why Texas A&M could beat Georgia Saturday

Five reasons why Texas A&M could beat Georgia on Saturday

After clinching the SEC East for the third-straight season on the Plains of Auburn, the Georgia Bulldogs will play host to the Texas A&M Aggies in Sanford Stadium on Saturday.

What’s at stake?

Oh you know, just the ability to keep playoff hopes alive, stay in the Top 4 and get a win on senior day in Athens.

Jimbo Fisher and company are desperate for a big-time win, after going 0-3 in their biggest games of the season so far.

We don’t expect Texas A&M to upset Georgia on Saturday, but we do think it has the ability to keep it close.

Below, you will find 5 reasons the Aggies make it a close game and potentially cover.

Watch: Aaron Murray says Jake Fromm’s experience could be difference maker if Georgia gets to CFP

Georgia football great Aaron Murray says that UGA QB Jake Fromm’s experience could be the difference maker if the Bulldogs get to the CFP.

[jwplayer S87y2cF8-er0jUifI]

No moment is too big for Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm, who has played in two SEC Championships, a Rose Bowl and a national title game all in just his first two years.

Now, as Fromm’s third season is coming to an end, he will have a chance to play in at least one more huge game, the conference championship vs LSU in two weeks.

If Fromm is able to guide the Dawgs to a win in Atlanta over the Tigers, then Georgia, assuming it does not drop a regular season game to Texas A&M or Tech, will punch its ticket to another College Football Playoff.

If that scenario plays out, there’s one former Bulldog who thinks Fromm’s experience will be a huge factor in the postseason.

Aaron Murray, the SEC’s all-time leading passer in just about every possible category, discussed Fromm’s experience compared to LSU’s Joe Burrow, Ohio State’s Justin Fields and Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, the players who they predict will fill the other three spots.

“Justin Fields has never played in a championship game, never played in the playoffs,” Murray said on he and Drew Butler’s college football show hosted by CampusLore. “Joe Burrow, never played in a championship game, never played in the playoffs. Trevor Lawrence, two games. Played in the playoffs last year and then he won the national championship.

Jake Fromm has played in multiple SEC Championship Games, played in a national championship game, played in playoff games.

He has more experience than all these guys combined,”

Murray went on to talk about why that experiences is so important, pointing to the fact that’s just a different type of game.

“It’s a big stage, man. These playoff games are not a regular season game. It’s not a game at home, it’s not a rivalry game. Everyone in the country’s watching this.”

In Fromm’s two SEC Championship appearances, he is 41/61 for 484 yards and five touchdowns. In the College Football Playoff two seasons ago, Fromm went 36/61 for 442 yards and three touchdowns.

Georgia football TBT: Herschel Walker’s 76 yard TD run vs TAMU

The Georgia Bulldogs are hosting the Texas A&M Aggies for the first time since 1980. UGA’s Herschel Walker scored three touchdowns that day.

[jwplayer awrcuYrl-er0jUifI]

The Georgia Bulldogs are hosting the Texas A&M Aggies for the first time since 1980, the last season the Bulldogs won a national championship. Freshman sensation Herschel Walker lead the Dawgs to a 42-0 shutout on the day. Walker had 21 carries for 145 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Walker scored a 76 yard touchdown in the third quarter. Video (with Larry Munson on the call) is courtesy of UGA Sports/Rival’s Patrick Garbin:

Georgia fans can hope the Bulldogs will host the Aggies 39 years later in another championship-winning season. D’Andre Swift will try to impersonate Herschel Walker in what may be Swift’s final game in Athens.

Texas A&M comes into the game at 7-3 with their losses coming to: Clemson, Alabama, and Auburn. The Aggies are certainly battled-tested. Kellen Mond and company are playing their best football of the season. Georgia’s defense will look to shutdown Jimbo Fisher’s offense in what’s expected to be a rainy game.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

Two Georgia football players named semifinalists for prestigious awards

A pair of Georgia football players were named semifinalists for prestigious CFB awards.

Two Georgia Bulldogs have been named semifinalists for a pair of college football’s most prestigious postseason awards.

Andrew Thomas, a junior left tackle, was named one of six semifinalists for the Outland Trophy, which goes to America’s top interior lineman.

Joining Thomas on the list is:

OC Tyler Bidasz (Wisconsin), DT Derrick Brown (Auburn), OT Penei Sewell (Oregon), OG John Simpson (Clemson) and OT Tristan Wirfs (Iowa).

I could definitely see Thomas bringing home the trophy, but Auburn’s Brown poses a tough fight. Currently, Thomas is a top-five pick in almost every NFL mock draft I’ve seen.

On Monday, the list of six will be trimmed to three and the winner will be announced at ESPN’s College Football Awards on December 12th from the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

Georgia junior safety J.R. Reed was named a semifinalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is given to America’s best defensive player.

Reed is joined by Brown (Auburn), LB Isaiah Simmons (Clemson), DB Antoine Winfield Jr. (Minnesota) and DE Chase Young (Ohio State).

Right now, this trophy is looking like it’s Young’s to lose, despite the fact hew was suspended for a portion of the season. But Reed has been a consistent force in the secondary all season and will go on to a long NFL career.

5 reasons why Georgia football will beat TAMU on Saturday

Here are five reasons why UGA football will beat the Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday in Athens, Georgia.

[jwplayer NbVtfHKC-er0jUifI]

This Saturday, the No. 4 ranked Georgia Bulldogs (9-1) host the unranked Texas A&M Aggies (7-3) in Athens.

Georgia, with its win over Auburn last weekend, clinched its spot in its third consecutive SEC Championship. The Aggies, on the other hand, were given college football’s hardest schedule and have lost to Clemson, Auburn and Alabama. Additionally, they still have to play LSU at the end of the season.

Despite being ranked No. 23 in both the Amway Coaches Poll and the AP Top-25, Texas A&M stayed unranked in the College Football Playoff rankings.

But do not sleep on Jimbo Fisher’s group. His team is coming off of a bye week and most recently beat South Carolina 30-6, the same team that beat Georgia in October.

We got the Dawgs winning, and you can see why below, but the DawgNation will come out and be loud on Saturday at 3:30.

Here are five reasons why Georgia beats Texas A&M.

Angry Tweets: CFB fans react to Georgia’s No. 4 ranking

Angry college football fans tweet after Georgia football checked in at No. 4 in the CFP Rankings.

On Tuesday night, Georgia checked in at No. 4 in the College Football Playoff rankings, remaining the highest ranked one-loss team.

According to the most recent edition of the CFP rankings, Georgia’s ranked wins include:

No. 16 Notre Dame

No. 10 Florida

No. 15 Auburn

The full top-six is as follows:

1. LSU

2. Ohio State

3. Clemson

4. Georgia

5. Alabama

6. Oregon

Surprisingly, Texas A&M, which Georgia hosts this weekend, remained unranked despite checking in at No. 23 in both the Amway Coaches Poll and the AP Top-25.

Following the release of the rankings, college football fans gave their thoughts on Twitter.

Originally, I was planning on making this an article that included happy tweets from UGA fans. Then, as I browsed Twitter all I saw was triggered fans of other schools…mostly Alabama. 

Enjoy.

College Football Playoff rankings released – where’s Georgia football?

Where’s Georgia football in the most recent CFP rankings?

[jwplayer OoFi41Mv-er0jUifI]

On Tuesday night, the newest College Football Playoff rankings were released after Georgia’s big road win over Auburn.

In the most recent rankings, Georgia (9-1) remained at No. 4. Surprisingly, Texas A&M (7-3), which Georgia plays on Saturday, stayed unranked despite being placed at No. 23 in the Amway Coaches Poll and the AP Top-25.

LSU (1), Ohio State (2) and Clemson (3) all took care of business, and all held onto the same rankings.

The Dawgs definitely had the most impressive win of the weekend among those teams, beating then-ranked No. 12 Auburn on the road. That victory gives Georgia three victories over top-25 teams.

According to the most recent edition of the CFP rankings, Georgia’s ranked wins include:

No. 16 Notre Dame

No. 10 Florida

No. 15 Auburn

Alabama, which lost star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for the season, remained put at No. 5.

Here is the full top-ten:

1. LSU

2. Ohio State

3. Clemson

4. Georgia

5. Alabama

6. Oregon

7. Utah

8. Penn State

9. Oklahoma

10. Minnesota

Georgia will look to hold onto that No. 4 spot on Saturday vs Texas A&M. That game is scheduled to kick at 3:30 p.m. ET from Sanford Stadium and will air on CBS.

Georgia football opens as heavy favorite over the Aggies

Georgia football opens as a heavy favorite over the Texas A&M Aggies.

[jwplayer Z9WX4pXd-er0jUifI]

This Saturday, Georgia hosts Texas A&M in Sanford Stadium for the Bulldogs’ final SEC matchup of the year.

It will be the first time the two schools have met since the Aggies joined the SEC in 2012.

Ahead of Saturday’s matchup, Georgia opened as a 13.5 point favorite over Texas A&M, continuing the Dawgs’ streak of being favored in every game they have played this season.

Odds via BetMGM. Access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 1:15 p.m.

Want to get in on the action? Place your bet now at BetMGM.

No. 4 Georgia is sitting at 9-1 and coming off an impressive road win over Auburn, while Texas A&M, which found its way into the Amway Coaches Poll this week at No. 24, is 7-3. Last Saturday, the Aggies took down South Carolina, the team responsible for handing Georgia its only loss, by a score of 30-6.

The last time the two programs met was in the 2009 Independence Bowl, which Georgia won 44-20. Running back Caleb King was responsible for two rushing touchdowns while tight end Aaron White caught two of his own.

Georgia leads the all-time series 3-2. The most recent regular season meeting between the two programs came in 1980. Georgia won that game and went on to win its second national championship.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

USA TODAY releases SEC power rankings – where’s Georgia football?

USA TODAY has releases their weekly SEC power rankings ahead of week 13. See where Georgia football ranks among the rest of the SEC.

The buzz around college football has been that after the South Carolina loss, Georgia controls its own destiny… and control it they have.

The Dawgs remain at No. 4 in the rankings following a 21-14 win over Auburn, and secured a ticket to the SEC Championship game.

USA TODAY’s SEC power rankings have Georgia at the No. 2 spot, dropping Alabama to No. 3 and LSU taking the No. 1 spot.

On Georgia, Horka said:

“It surely wasn’t an offensive exhibition from the Bulldogs in their big win over Auburn, but a win is a win regardless. It’s looks likely that Georgia will meet LSU in the SEC Championship game, but it doesn’t look like the Dawgs will be able to go blow for blow with Burrow and company.”

Here is his top-six in the SEC:

  1. LSU (10-0, 6-0 SEC)
  2. Georgia (9-1, 6-1 SEC)
  3. Alabama (9-1, 6-1 SEC)
  4. Florida (9-2, 6-2 SEC)
  5. Auburn (7-3, 4-3 SEC)
  6. Texas A&M (7-3, 4-2 SEC)

Georgia has one more SEC opponent in its way before the SEC Championship.

Texas A&M seems like it should be a Georgia win this Saturday at 3:30 p.m., but the Dawgs need to make sure they don’t play down to the Aggies’ level.

This game has trap game written all over it and if we’ve learned anything this year, it’s don’t take any team lightly.

For the full rankings, click here.