Texas and Georgia collide Saturday night in a high-stakes battle “between the hedges,” with playoff survival on the line in Athens. The No. 10-ranked Longhorns, led by Arch Manning and the nation’s top pass rush, face a must-win against the No. 5-ranked Bulldogs, who look to defend their home turf and rekindle their championship hopes after a rare defeat at Sanford Stadium.
With both teams boasting top-25 defenses and the narrative swirling around Texas’ postseason desperation, this primetime clash promises elite talent, playoff drama and the kind of physical football that can define a season. Ty Simpson’s stock has risen to being a potential top quarterback in this upcoming class. The Heisman Trophy race is coming down the stretch and looks to be decided in the Big Ten.
- Waiver Wire Advice
- Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Devy Fantasy Football Primer
Game of the Week
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
#10 Texas Longhorns @ #5 Georgia Bulldogs (-6.5) | 48.5| Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC
One of the biggest games of the entire season takes place between the hedges in Athens on Saturday between Texas and Georgia. Texas is fighting for its playoff life, as a loss would almost certainly knock them out of the hunt with three losses. Georgia only has one loss, but going down to Texas puts them in a shaky spot to make the playoffs.
On paper, this one shapes up to be a defensive battle as both defenses rank in the top 25 for scoring and in the top 12 for rushing. Texas’ weak spot comes in the passing game, ranking 96th, facing a Georgia passing attack that ranks 60th. Texas has the second-ranked rushing defense, while Georgia has the 24th-ranked rushing offense. Texas may have the best pass rush in the nation, ranking first in sacks and fifth in quarterback hits.
Texas’ offense ranks outside of the top 50 in all categories except for turnovers. Georgia’s defense has been solid all season long, as it ranks in the top 60 in both rushing and passing. Kirby Smart had a 33-game winning streak at home until the loss to Alabama this season. It will be a tall task for Georgia to lose at home twice in one season, but Texas’ defense has the talent to contain the Bulldog offense and allow Arch Manning and company to score just enough to walk out of Athens victorious.
My Picks:
Devy Spotlight
Ty Simpson (QB – Alabama) | 2026
Ty Simpson has had a phenomenal season, leading the Crimson Tide to a potential playoff berth, and he is still very much in the Heisman Trophy picture. Through nine games, he has nearly 2,500 passing yards, 21 passing touchdowns and only one interception on a nearly 67% completion rate.
Simpson has already faced a tough defense in Georgia (288 yards, three touchdowns) and now faces an even better Oklahoma defense that ranks sixth in scoring and 22nd in pass defense. They also rank third in sacks and second in quarterback hits, demonstrating their ability to disrupt the quarterback consistently.
Simpson has been creating plenty of NFL buzz as part of a quarterback class that is questionable at best to this point and is still wide open. A good performance against an elite defense could send the hype to another level heading down the final stretch of the season.
Heisman Trophy Race
The top five Heisman Trophy favorites after Week 11:
- Julian Sayin (QB – Ohio State) | +160
- Fernando Mendoza (QB – Indiana) | +170
- Ty Simpson (QB – Alabama) | +500
- Marcel Reed (QB – Texas A&M) | +700
- Diego Pavia (QB – Vandy) | +2000
Julian Sayin remains the favorite after a road victory over Purdue, where he recorded his third straight game with a completion rate over 80% and fourth in the last five games. Fernando Mendoza led Indiana to the program’s first win in Happy Valley. It wasn’t his best game of the season by any means, but he stepped up in crunch time and delivered a comeback victory to remain undefeated.
Ty Simpson and the Crimson Tide took down LSU in a rugged SEC battle at home, with Simpson finishing with 277 yards and one touchdown. He continues to have the third-best odds. Marcel Reed delivered an efficient game (221 yards, two touchdowns, 69% completion rate) on the road in Missouri to notch another win for the Aggies in their pursuit of an SEC title.
Diego Pavia and Vanderbilt in close SEC games has been the theme over the past few weeks. This past Saturday was no different, with an overtime win over Auburn and a big game from Pavia (489 total yards and four touchdowns).
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Spotify | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSS | YouTube
Follow on X for more betting, DFS, and fantasy content @GUMP7285.