Paul Finebaum Makes Official Pick for No. 1 Texas Longhorns vs. No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs

The Oregon Ducks and Ohio State Buckeyes stole the show in Week 7 of the 2024 college football season, with a dramatic 32-31 win for Dan Lanning and the Ducks. In Week 8, the Texas Longhorns and Georgia Bulldogs will step onto the biggest stage with the spotlight shining down.

It's a No. 1 vs. No. 5 matchup in the SEC, and a chance to Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns to assert some dominance in their first year as members of the conference. When it comes to the future 12-team College Football Playoff bracket, this outcome will hold major weight in terms of seeding, and who ultimately gets in when all is said and done.

On Wednesday morning, ESPN's Paul Finebaum went on "Get Up" and made his official pick for the top-five matchup.

"I'm going with Texas," Finebaum said. "Even though Georgia has played a more competitive schedule, they beat Clemson early in the year handily, and they played Alabama to a one-score game in Tuscaloosa. I just don't like the vibes out of Carson Beck, and this Georgia defense has really let Kirby Smart down."

Coming off of a dominant three-year stretch where they won two national championships and barely missed out on the playoff last year, the Bulldogs have understandably been frustrated with their one-loss start to the season in 2024. A dominant win over Clemson in Week 1 got things off on the right foot, but a surprising loss to Alabama a few weeks later is still weighing heavy on the fanbase.

Meanwhile, the Longhorns have been perfect this year, despite some upheaval at the quarterback position. Senior Quinn Ewers was injured early in the year, paving the way for the young phenom Arch Manning to step in and dazzle with the opportunity. Ewers returned to the field this past week in the Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma and led the Longhorns to a blowout 34-3 victory.

Currently, Texas is favored by 3.5 points at home against Georgia, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The game will take place on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. EST.

Related: Georgia to be Without All-SEC Starter Against Texas