Upsets change SEC, BCS title picture for Georgia

Athens —The clock said 4 p.m. but it might as well have been midnight on New Year’s Eve in Bulldog Country.

That’s when the word of No. 4 Florida’s stunning 31-30 loss to Ole Miss began moving across the University of Georgia campus like a wave of joyful electricity. Alabama and Georgia fans, who would be bitter enemies less than four hours later, were crossing over tailgate locations to hug one another in massive celebration at the fall of the Mighty Gators.

They were also celebrating because, in less than 48 hours, both the SEC and the national championship race had undergone a seismic shift.

With No. 1 USC’s loss to Oregon State (27-21) on Thursday night and No. 4 Florida losing for only the second time under Urban Meyer at The Swamp, No. 3 Georgia and No. 8 Alabama had suddenly become among the only four undefeated teams (with LSU and Vanderbilt) left in the SEC.

Florida’s loss also eliminated one more obstacle between Georgia, Alabama and a shot at the BCS championship.

Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC) entered the Alabama game knowing it had a chance to jump back to No. 1 in the human polls if No. 2 Oklahoma (3-0) lost or struggled in its 7 p.m. game with TCU.

For Georgia it would be sweet vindication. The Bulldogs started the season ranked No. 1 but fell to No. 3 after “unimpressive” wins over Georgia Southern, Central Michigan, and South Carolina. But last week’s 27-10 win at Arizona State got the voters’ attention. With four SEC teams (Georgia, Alabama, Florida, LSU) in the AP Top 10, Georgia was in great position to get back to the top spot if it could win.

Alabama (4-0, 1-0) entered the game knowing that if it won, the Crimson Tide could expect to jump one, if not more, spots in Sunday’s new polls. Alabama has not won a national championship since 1992 and has not won an SEC championship since 1999. But since a 34-10 win over Clemson at the Georgia Dome on Aug. 30, Nick Saban’s rebuilding project, now in its second year, has appeared significantly ahead of schedule.

The first BCS Standings of the 2008 season will be released on Oct. 19 but the Harris Interactive poll, one of the two human polls used in the BCS formula, will be released for the first time on Sunday. Both Georgia and Alabama entered the game with a chance to impress those voters.

There was additional good news for Georgia late Saturday afternoon as SEC East rival Tennessee dropped a 14-12 decision at Auburn. Tennessee (1-3, 0-2) has a non-conference game with Northern Illinois next week before coming to Sanford Stadium on Oct. 11. Tennessee is 1-3 for the first time since 1994, the second full season for Phillip Fulmer as coach. Given the negative energy surrounding that program and Fulmer, there is no guessing the frame of mind the Vols will bring to Athens.

Auburn (4-1, 2-1), Alabama’s bitter rival, posted its second nail-biting win in three weeks. The Tigers beat Mississippi State 3-2 on Sept. 13. Auburn recovered a Tennessee fumble in the Volunteer end zone for one of its touchdowns.