IT Roundtable: SEC Championship predictions, conference title memories, key matchups

In their first year in the league, the Texas Longhorns are competing for the SEC Championship. Texas will have to go through a Georgia Bulldogs team that’s used to winning conference titles and will be on friendly turf in Atlanta. At stake? Not just the SEC title, but also a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff.

[Join Inside Texas TODAY and get 7 days for just ONE DOLLAR!]

The Inside Texas staff offers conference title game memories, players to watch, key matchups, and score predictions in the Roundtable.

Before we look forward, let’s look back. Favorite conference championship game memory?

Eric Nahlin – James Brown. Derek Lewis. Roll left. Then Nebraska again, seeing time put back on the clock in 2009.

Justin Wells – Hanging 70 on Colorado. James Brown’s roll left. Hunter Lawrence sending Texas to the natty. Quinn Ewers going crazy on Okie State last year. I love them all.

Ian Boyd – Texas fans booing Brett Yormark as he tried to hand away the last Big 12 Conference championship trophy before the league became AAC+.

Joe Cook – Everything about the 2023 Big 12 Championship was college football. The uncertainty about whether a win would put Texas in the College Football Playoff. The fan base being mildly on pins and needles concerned about a late-stage choke-job when the best season and one last goodbye to the Big 12 was there for the taking. Then, the beatdown that was nearly three decades in the making, culminating in the unceasing booing of the conference commissioner who somewhat justifiably had it out for his own league’s members. That three seed the next day was great, too.

Charlie Williams – Being nervous about the Texas versus Colorado game in 2005 because of what happened in 2001. Then, Vince Young took over and I knew it was UT’s time.

Paul Wadlington – The 1996 Nebraska upset was one of the sweetest victories I’ve ever seen. So unexpected and such an inspired effort across the board. Roll Left, Baby!

Evan Vieth – Seeing T’Vondre Sweat enter in the Jumbo Package and knowing exactly where the ball was going. The Heisman pose was iconic.

RT Young – Roll left happened a long time ago in my sports consciousness, but I still remember it. DKR also got 25 years worth of play out of its recreation through James Brown and Derek Lewis as Rudy’s BBQ sauce bottles.

James Hayden – 2009 against Nebraska, a matchup featuring two teams no longer in the Big 12. My dad and older brother went, I remember hearing about the last play because I wasn’t allowed to stay up and watch. Colt McCoy got his last second, which set up the game winning field goal.

Quinn Ewers‘ individual performance was a focus following the first Texas/UGA matchup. What does he need to do on Saturday to earn some redemption?

Eric Nahlin – Show more composure in the pocket and take better care of the ball. I genuinely believe that will be good enough to get it done.

Justin Wells – Hand the ball off like it’s his job. The rushing attack will keep Georgia’s defense somewhat honest, which will allow the Texas offense to move the ball.

Ian Boyd – Hit the opening script and step up and throw over the middle of the field while avoiding turnovers.

Joe Cook – Protect the football. It’s cliche, but make every drive end in a kick.

Charlie Williams – Cliche, but protect the ball and smart play in the red zone. Texas needs TD’s, not FG’s or lost field position.

Paul Wadlington – He threw seven turnover worthy balls, one interception and had two fumbles while effectively self-sacking four times. He also got briefly benched. So play better than that.

Evan Vieth – Realistically, all he has to do is handle the ball well. Georgia’s offense may struggle with Trevor Etienne‘s injury, and Texas might only need to score 20 to win this one. Fans, however, are going to expect a lot closer to his 2023 Big 12 Championship performance. Throwing for 250 and 2 TD’s with no turnovers would be the golden performance for Ewers, and should earn him some redemption with the media and fans.

RT Young – Be the calm and easy riding Quinn he was in College Station, as Walter says in Big Lebowski “nothing is f——, Dude.”

James Hayden – Take care of the football!

How does Texas make life uncomfortable for Carson Beck, who hasn’t known comfort against the Longhorn defense this year?

Eric Nahlin – Take away his tight ends and allow just enough time for the guys up front to do their job.

Justin Wells – By spotting the damn ball and drawing the line. Texas’ defense is playing at an obscene level right now.

Ian Boyd – If Texas covers the tight ends and running back Cash Jones on 3rd downs, Beck will be forced to beat them throwing to his receivers against the best secondary in the country. Which is a tough proposition.

Joe Cook – Three interceptions again would be nice but that’s hard to project. I’ll zig to Ian’s zag. Cover those outside receivers and force them to have to dink and dunk to middle-of-the-field players not named Ladd McConkey and/or Brock Bowers. Plus, the UGA running back corps is depleted. They’re talented still, but they aren’t the frontline guys. See if they’re up for the big game.

Charlie Williams – Disguise coverages by moving into position before the snap, bring pressure up the middle, and make sure throwing windows are small.

Paul Wadlington – Beck is awful when pressured. Fifteen of his attempts end up hitting a defender and he averages less than 6.0 yards per attempt. If Texas can pressure him without blitzing, great. But Texas has to get pressure. He’s also a good deep ball thrower. Can’t give up any gimmes over the top.

Evan Vieth – Getting Beck into 3rd and long situations will be a key on Saturday. Georgia doesn’t have the playmakers to consistently beat Texas’ secondary, and Beck has struggled on obvious passing downs. Getting Jahdae Barron into the dime package and sending a mix of Colin Simmons, Trey Moore and Anthony Hill downhill will lead to turnovers.

RT Young – If the defensive line plays the way it has played the last four games, it’ll make hipster Case McCoy’s life hell. Barryn Sorrell was an animal last time, but when Colin Simmons, Anthony Hill, Alfred Collins, Vernon Broughton, and Trey Moore get added in, look out.

James Hayden – He does it to himself, just keep him from checking it down and allow the edges to work.

Key matchup to watch (position vs. position, player vs. player)

Eric Nahlin – Texas OL versus Georgia DL, but in the run game, not the pass game. Texas didn’t have any semblance of offensive balance in the first game.

Justin Wells – OT Cam Williams vs LB Jalon Walker.

Ian Boyd – Can the Texas interior line control the point of attack on Georgia’s D-line when the Longhorns run zone in this game?

Joe Cook – Special teams. Texas has to hold serve here.

Charlie Williams – UGA DL versus Texas OL, and UGA K/P versus Texas K/P

Paul Wadlington – The Texas OL and Quinn Ewers versus the Georgia front seven.

Evan Vieth – Cam Williams versus Mykel Williams

RT Young – The Texas O-line versus the UGA D-line that embarrassed them last time. Specifically Kelvin Banks/Trevor Goosby, and Cam Williams against Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams.

James Hayden – Secondary versus Carson Beck, and Jalon Walker versus Cam Williams

[Subscribe to the Inside Texas YouTube channel!]

Score prediction

Eric Nahlin – 30-15, Texas

Justin Wells – 23-20, Texas

Ian Boyd – 30-24, Texas

Joe Cook – 23-21, Texas

Charlie Williams – 27-20, Georgia

Paul Wadlington – 24-23, Texas

Evan Vieth – 24-20, Texas

RT Young – 24-13, Texas

James Hayden – 24-13, Texas