Rece Davis Reveals Concerning Trend for Texas Ahead of Matchup Against Georgia

No. 1 Texas (6-0) will host No. 5 Georgia (5-1) on Saturday night in one of the most highly anticipated matchups of the season. SEC Championship Game and College Football Playoff implications could be on the line in Austin, adding more drama to a game that could very well be an instant college football classic.

ESPN "College GameDay" host Rece Davis believes the game could go either way, though there is one trend flying under the radar for Texas.

Steve Sarkisian's Longhorns have built on a stellar season after making their first playoff appearance in program history last year. Starting quarterback Quinn Ewers has the Texas offense firing on all cylinders, with Carson Beck and the Bulldogs standing in the way.

Under Smart, Georgia has consistently fielded one of the best defenses in the country. That unit has not been up to the standard thus far, allowing 20 points per game, which ranks 22nd in the country. UGA allowed a season-worst 41 points to No. 7 Alabama in its lone loss.

On the other side, Sarkisian is known as one of the best offensive minds in the sport. Texas ranks No. 7 in the nation in scoring (43.2 points per game). But the biggest surprise this year for the Longhorns is how the defense is playing under Pete Kwiatkowski.

Texas sits comfortably in the lead in total defense and is allowing a nation-best 6.3 points per game. According to Davis, however, the Longhorns may be more vulnerable than the numbers reflect due to previous opposition.

"They haven't seen anything like what Carson Beck and the boys are going to bring to town," he said on UGAsports.com.

"In their (Longhorns) three games against Power Four opponents, they've seen a former walk-on quarterback making his second career start and two true freshmen," Davis continued. "Four of their six opponents this season have passing offenses that are ranked below 100th in the country, and the best passing offense they have seen up to this point is UTSA.”

Davis is correct. Texas has yet to face a quarterback who isn't a first-year starter in Power Four games, including No. 24 Michigan, Mississippi State and Oklahoma. Additionally, the Wolverines have made a change at quarterback following the matchup in Week 2.

Georgia's offense has ignited behind the arm of second-year starter Beck. The senior has thrown for 1,138 yards over the last three games, including a career-best of 459 yards against Mississippi State last week. The Dawgs pass for 318 yards per game, the ninth-best mark in the country.

Numbers aside, this game will be a chess match between the experienced coaching staff and star quarterbacks. Whichever defense is able to step up in the fourth quarter will likely walk out with a monumental SEC victory.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC). The Longhorns are listed as 5-point favorites, per ESPN Bet.

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