Georgia Puts Out a Champion’s Effort

Georgia will play for the Southeastern Conference championship next weekend. And who knows, the Bulldogs might just get a shot at the biggest game of all.

The fifth-ranked Bulldogs sure played like champions Saturday, building a big halftime lead against Georgia Tech and cruising to a 51-7 victory at Athens, Ga. -- Georgia’s most lopsided win in the series, which began in 1893. The Bulldogs won 47-8 in 1968.

While blowing out the Yellow Jackets, Georgia (11-1) learned that No. 3 Oklahoma had lost to Oklahoma State, 38-28, eliminating another Fiesta Bowl contender.

Now, the Bulldogs must hope No. 1 Miami loses to Virginia Tech next Saturday.

“We’ll be rooting for the Hokies, that’s for sure,” quarterback David Greene said. “But we’ve got to take care of our business or it doesn’t matter.”

For Georgia, the next order of business is the SEC championship game against Arkansas. The Bulldogs will be trying to win their first conference title since 1982.

“We all know we haven’t won a championship in 20 years,” said Coach Mark Richt, whose team ensured its first 11-win season since 1982. “That’s enough motivation right there.”

Georgia can expect to move up to third place when the new bowl championship series standings are released Monday. No. 2 Ohio State already has completed a perfect regular season, but the other spot could be wide open if Virginia Tech upsets the Hurricanes at the Orange Bowl.

“We all hope to have a shot at playing for the national championship,” Richt said. “The only way we can have a shot is to win next week. But it’s certainly in the back of our mind. We know there’s a chance we can go to the Fiesta Bowl.”

Georgia Tech (7-5), which trailed, 34-0, at halftime, doesn’t have to worry about such lofty goals after enduring its worst defeat since a 49-3 rout by Florida State in 1996. The Yellow Jackets are eligible for their sixth straight bowl appearance, but they’ll probably have to settle for a return trip to the Seattle Bowl.

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No. 14 Alabama 21, Hawaii 16 -- Shaud Williams rushed for 160 yards and a touchdown as the Crimson Tide (10-3) defeated the Warriors (9-3) at Honolulu to extends its NCAA record of 10-win seasons to 27.

Alabama grounded the nation’s top passing team in Hawaii (9-3), forcing quarterback Timmy Chang into four interceptions. Chang completed 26 of 54 passes for 374 yards.

The Crimson Tide kept the Warriors’ offense off the field with time-consuming drives. Alabama had the ball for 38 minutes 55 seconds.

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Tennessee 24, Kentucky 0 -- Derrick Tinsley caught two touchdown passes from Casey Clausen as the Volunteers (8-4, 5-3) defeated the Wildcats (7-5, 3-5) at Knoxville, Tenn. Kentucky has lost 18 in a row to Tennessee. Clausen, playing on a healing sprained right ankle and foot, completed 13 of 26 passes for 175 yards and no interceptions. Tinsley had four catches for 72 yards, a career high.