ESPN.com - Instant analysis: Georgia 37, Ole Miss 10

ESPN.com: Georgia Bulldogs

Saturday, November 3, 2012
Instant analysis: Georgia 37, Ole Miss 10

By David Ching

ATHENS, Ga. -- Upset-minded Ole Miss put a scare into the fans who gathered at Sanford Stadium for Georgia's homecoming on Saturday afternoon, but a pair of first-half touchdown passes by quarterback Aaron Murray broke Georgia out of its early daze and the Bulldogs broke away in the second half for a comfortable 37-10 victory.

How the game was won: Ole Miss jumped out to an early lead, but Georgia used a 40-yard touchdown pass from Murray to Tavarres King with 3 seconds left in the first half to take a 14-10 lead at intermission. It was all Bulldogs after that as Ole Miss mustered just 55 yards in the second half and the Bulldogs steadily pulled away.

Turning point: Georgia was going nowhere and trailed 10-0 when it faced third-and-1 at its own 34-yard line. That’s when offensive coordinator Mike Bobo went deep into the mothballs to fish out the rooskie pass that David Greene used to great success as the Bulldogs’ quarterback a decade ago. Murray faked a handoff and stood with the ball on his hip and his back to the line of scrimmage. He then wheeled and lofted a pass to uncovered Marlon Brown for a 66-yard touchdown pass that gave the Bulldogs life for the first time.

Unsung hero: Todd Gurley. Georgia’s freshman running back did not score a touchdown and lost his first fumble of the season, but he kept the Bulldogs’ ground game going with another solid effort. Gurley rushed 18 times for 117 yards, pushing past the 100-yard barrier for the sixth time in nine games.

What it means: By putting away the Rebels, Georgia (8-1, 6-1) will be able to clinch its second straight SEC East title with a win against Auburn (2-7) next week. The Tigers snapped a five-game losing streak by beating lowly New Mexico State 42-7 on Saturday. But Georgia must win against Auburn, as Florida (8-1, 7-1) completed its SEC schedule with a 14-7 win against Missouri on Saturday and would claim the division title if Auburn pulls the upset next week.