The Georgia Bulldogs are 13.5-point favorites over the Texas Longhorns according to top betting sites for the 2019 Allstate Sugar Bowl. UGA was the SEC East Division champion with an 11-2 record (7-1 in conference play). Additionally, the Bulldogs are 8-5 against the spread this year. Georgia lost the SEC championship game 28-35 to Alabama as 12-point underdogs. This will be UGA’s 23rd straight bowl appearance and 10th Sugar Bowl.
UT was second in the Big 12 with nine wins and four losses (seven and two in conference play). The Longhorns are 5-7-1 against the spread. They lost the Big 12 championship game 27-39 to Oklahoma as 9.5-point dogs. Texas will return to a bowl game after losing the 2013 Alamo Bowl 7-30 to Oregon. This will be their fourth Sugar Bowl.
Betting Texas
The Longhorns are a talented bunch. But perhaps not talented enough for the Sugar Bowl. If look around top betting sites, you’ll see most bowls are expected to be close. This is one of the few with a double-digit point spread. Starting QB Sam Ehlinger has 25 TDs and five picks on 3123 yards. However, he did most of his damage against Big 12 secondaries. And Big 12 secondaries don’t hold a candle to Georgia’s secondary. Ehlinger more often than not turns to Lil’Jordan Humphrey, who has 1109 yards and nine TDs on 79 receptions. Additionally, Tre ‘Cool’ Watson and Keaontay Ingram have six TDs on 1378 rushing yards between the two.
Betting Georgia
UGA finished No. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings. That is, one spot shy of a CFP berth. Starting QB Jake ‘Ethan’ Fromm has 27 TDs and five picks on 2537 yards through the air. He completes 68.4% of his attempts. Mecole Hardman has six TDs on 540 receiving yards. Riley Ridley has nine TDs and 498 yards on 38 catches. D’Andre Swift and Elijah Holyfield have a combined 17 TDs on 1993 yards on the ground. On defense, corner Deandre Baker has 40 tackles (31 solo and nine assisted) and two interceptions. The Jim Thorpe Award-winner is like nothing Ehlinger has come across so far. In general, Georgia’s defense ranks 16th in points allowed per game (18.5). The Bulldogs are 19-9 ATS under head coach Kirby Smart. That includes a 4-0 ATS postseason record.
Texas Longhorns vs. Georgia Bulldogs – Sugar Bowl Betting Preview
- Date: January 1, 2019
- Time: 7:30 p.m. CT
- Venue: Mercedes-Benz Superdome New Orleans, LA (Sugar Bowl)
Lines from MyBookie.ag:
- Texas +13½ (-125) 58 (-110) +385
- Georgia -13½ (+105) 58 (-110) -485
- Longhorns are 7-1-1 ATS in their last 9 games after allowing more than 280 yards passing in their previous game
- Texas is 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 games after accumulating more than 280 yards passing in their previous game
- Longhorns are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 games following a straight up loss
- Bulldogs are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games following an ATS win
- Georgia is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 non-conference games
- Bulldogs are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games after accumulating more than 280 yards passing in their previous game
The final countdown begins… pic.twitter.com/TGt3CR6ZfD
— Allstate Sugar Bowl (@SugarBowlNola) December 31, 2018
Our Game Prediction: UGA not only lost the SEC championship to Alabama. They arguably lost a College Football Playoff berth as well. Texas only lost the Big 12 championship. Therefore, the Longhorns have less backward momentum than the Bulldogs entering the Allstate Sugar Bowl. And non-CFP bowl games come down mostly to motivation. So I guess users of top betting sites should take Texas and the points. Or should they? Even a down in the dumps Bulldogs should be able to play circles around the Longhorns. Especially since Georgia might just want to take out their frustration on Texas. This Sugar bowl will be bittersweet. Sweet for Georgia and bitter for Texas.