Athens mayor Kelly Girtz feels so strongly that Georgia football will pull off the upset of No. 1 Texas on Saturday that he’s made a small wager with Austin, Texas, mayor Kirk Watson.
The two city heads have laid $100 of their own cash on the line to benefit the student-support charity of the winner’s choosing. Should Georgia win, Watson will donate a check to Embark Georgia, an organization helping increase college access and retention for youth who have experienced foster care or homelessness.
If Texas wins, Girtz will donate to the University of Texas Counseling Center.
I believe so strongly that the Georgia Bulldogs are going to DOMINATE the Texas Longhorns this Saturday that I’ve laid $100 on the line with Mayor Kirk Watson of Austin. The loser will donate to the winner’s student-support charity of choice. Gooooo Dawgs!!!! pic.twitter.com/HwKLi5F2d6
— Kelly Girtz (@kellygirtz) October 18, 2024
“I’ve got a bone to pick with Mayor Watson,” Girtz said in a playful Tweet. “It’s his belief that those Texas Longhorns are going to beat up on the Bulldogs this Saturday. I think it’s going to be the other way around. I think our Bulldogs are going to devour the Longhorns.”
Watson, decked out in Longhorns gear, made the initial gesture to Girtz in a Tweet earlier Thursday when he held up the ‘Hook ’em Horns’ symbol and challenged Girtz to the bet.
“(I’m) betting that my Longhorns beat the Georgia Bulldogs this Saturday…It’s going to be a great game,” Watson said. “It’s going to be a fun game, it’s wonderful to be a part of the SEC; Hook ’em Horns.”
Both cities are known for their music scenes, college atmospheres and stellar football programs.
Georgia currently ranks No. 5 and enters as 4.5-point underdogs to the Longhorns, who joined the SEC this season.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Athens mayor makes bet over Georgia-Texas football game
