Georgia 41, Oklahoma 13

 

In his post-game interview, Coach Kirby Smart expressed his dissatisfaction with Georgia's performance. It wasn't humility or false modesty on Smart's part - the Dawgs offense really was hot garbage in this game. Fortunately, Oklahoma played even worse, turning the ball over four times on interceptions and fumbles and once on downs. Georgia scored 20 of its 41 points on those turnovers, including the play of the game - an 85-yard return by linebacker Chris Cole of an Oklahoma fumble for a TD. 

After falling behind, 28-0 at the half, Oklahoma scored a third-quarter TD following an interception of Georgia QB Gunner Stockton but missed the PAT. Later, following a recovered Georgia fumble, they managed to miss a 54-yard field goal. It was that kind of day for the Sooners.

Both sides played ugly, but Oklahoma was at least twice as ugly as the Bulldogs. Stockton finished the day with 171 yards on 14 of 25 attempts, including one touchdown and one interception. Running back Nate Frazier was out with an injury, but  Dwight Phillips Jr. led the Dawgs with 84 yards and one rushing TD an one reception for a TD. The day's breakout performer was probably wide receiver Talyn Taylor who had one touchdown and four receptions for 110 yards, including one beautiful one-handed catch with a defender draped all over his body (the penalty was declined).

The No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs are now 4-0. No. 1 Texas struggled this afternoon at No. 14 Tennessee, eventually winning by a field goal, 20-17. If the AP Poll voters only look at the scores tomorrow, there's a chance Georgia moves ahead of Texas in the rankings. But the Bulldogs weren't playing like a No. 1 team today if you watch the tape and the AP voters love Texas and their Arch Manning, so they're likely to decide that a 3-point road win over a No. 14 team is better than a 28-point home win over an unranked team and keep at least the top two rankings as they are. No. 3 Notre Dame beat unranked Purdue on the road, 49-10, but I don't think they'd dare move the Irish up over Georgia on a day when both teams won.

Next up for the Dawgs are the unranked Vanderbilt Commodores (3-1) in Athens. Vandy lost at Auburn today, 21-15. Fortunately for Georgia, the Commodores' Heisman runner-up QB Diego Pavia has graduated and is gone, and new quarterback Jared Curtis got sacked four times today and threw an INT. The early line favors Georgia by 23½ points.

Four games down, eight to go - at least until the playoffs.