Gators rip Bulldogs

Tebow leads way as Florida avenges its 2007 defeat

Florida waited a year to celebrate against Georgia -- and boy did the fifth-ranked Gators get to party in Jacksonville, Fla.

Tim Tebow accounted for five touchdowns, Percy Harvin scored twice and the revenge-minded Gators thumped the Bulldogs 49-10 Saturday in one of the most anticipated matchups in the history of this storied rivalry.

Florida (7-1, 5-1) pretty much shut down Knowshon Moreno, took advantage of Georgia's numerous mistakes and avenged last year's 42-30 loss in which the brazen Bulldogs used a full-team, end-zone celebration to energize them.

The Gators won for the 16th time in the last 19 meetings, and this one was one of the most lopsided of all the one-sided affairs. Florida's largest margin of victory in the series was a 47-7 win in 1996.

Tebow ran for a season-high three touchdowns, including two in the decisive third quarter. Florida outscored Georgia (7-2, 4-2) 21-0 in the third, scoring twice after turnovers.

The Gators can clinch the SEC East next week at Vanderbilt, and if they win out, they could end up playing for the national championship.

ALSO SATURDAY

ARKANSAS 30, NO. 19 TULSA 23: Dennis Johnson returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown in the final minute of the third quarter, and Arkansas snapped Tulsa's unbeaten run.

The Golden Hurricane (8-1) had a chance to tie it in the final minute, but David Johnson threw incomplete on fourth down from the Arkansas 7.

The Razorbacks (4-5) jumped ahead 17-0 in the first quarter, but Tulsa's prolific offense didn't stay quiet for long. Johnson threw for 322 yards and a touchdown, and Charles Clay scored a pair of TDs on the way to tying it at 23.

SOUTH CAROLINA 27, TENNESSEE 6: Freshman Stephen Garcia threw two touchdown passes and South Carolina rolled past visiting Tennessee.

The victory was just the fourth alltime for the Gamecocks (6-3, 3-3) over the Vols (3-6), who at 1-5 in the league are guaranteed their second losing SEC record in the past four seasons.

MISSISSIPPI 17, AUBURN 7: Jevan Snead threw two touchdown passes, Cordera Eason rushed for 104 yards and Mississippi capitalized on a series of fourth-quarter mistakes by Auburn to beat the visiting Tigers and move within a game of bowl eligibility.

It was third Southeastern Conference win for Ole Miss (5-4, 3-3 SEC) under first-year coach Houston Nutt, matching the total put up in three seasons under former coach Ed Orgeron. The win snapped a four-game losing streak to the Tigers (4-5, 2-4), who were 8-1 in Oxford coming into the game.

NO. 2 ALABAMA 35, ARKANSAS STATE 2: Mark Ingram rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries and Rashad Johnson scored on a 32-yard interception return in Alabama's win over visiting Arkansas State.

The Crimson Tide (9-0) turned in a dominant all-around performance to set the stage for next week's showdown at No. 15 LSU.

Alabama, which can clinch the Southeastern Conference Western Division title with a win over LSU, managed its first shutout since a 17-0 win over Mississippi State on Nov. 5, 2005. The Tide allowed only 158 yards on 54 plays against Arkansas State (4-4).

KENTUCKY 14, MISSISSIPPI ST. 13: Randall Cobb passed for one touchdown and rushed for another, and Kentucky blocked an extra point early in the fourth quarter to beat Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss.

Mississippi State kicker Adam Carlson also missed a 27-yard field goal attempt with 7:16 remaining as Kentucky (6-3, 2-3) rallied from a 7-0 deficit to reach bowl eligibility.

Mississippi State dropped to 3-6, 1-4.

NO. 15 LSU 35, TULANE 10: Charles Scott rushed for 114 yards and LSU scored two touchdowns in 27 seconds late in the second quarter as the Tigers routed visiting Tulane.

The Tigers are now 6-2 on the season. The Green Wave dropped to 2-6.