Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low
ATHENS, Ga. -- One flawless first half was more than enough for Alabama.
The No. 8-ranked Crimson Tide dominated the line of scrimmage in the first half in building a 31-0 lead and then survived a couple of special teams gaffes in the second half to send No. 3-ranked Georgia packing in a 41-30 beating Saturday that sent shockwaves around the college football world.
Bama is back.
In fact, Alabama has as good a claim as any to the No. 1 spot when the new polls come out Sunday. The Crimson Tide (5-0, 2-0 SEC) has now beaten two top 10 teams away from home. They opened the season with a blowout win over Clemson in Atlanta. At the time, the Tigers were ranked No. 9.
After being pummeled in the first half, Georgia (4-1, 1-1 SEC) at least made it interesting for a few minutes in the fourth quarter. Prince Miller took a punt back 92 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter to get the Bulldogs within 31-17.
Alabama coach Nick Saban is always talking about finishing. Well, the Tide finished the Bulldogs with 10 straight points to empty a once black-filled Sanford Stadium.
It was Alabama's second offensive explosion in as many weeks. The Tide trounced Arkansas 49-14 last week. It's the first time since 1989 that they have scored more than 40 points in back-to-back SEC games.
For much of the game, Alabama's defense was suffocating. Georgia didn't get its first first down running the football until late in the fourth quarter.
Don't look now, but Alabama has a great chance to be 9-0 heading into its game at LSU on Nov. 8. The Tide gets Kentucky at home next week, then Ole Miss at home on Oct. 18 and Tennessee on the road on Oct. 25 before traveling to Baton Rouge.
Chris Low joined ESPN.com in 2007 after 10 years with The (Nashville) Tennessean covering the University of Tennessee and SEC. The Rock Hill, S.C., native lives with his wife in Knoxville and has three sons.
