First quarter blog

0:55 left in first quarter, Georgia ups lead to 17-0

The rout is on.

Derek Dooley has had better days inside Sanford Stadium, I suspect.

Taking advantage of another turnover, this time on a kickoff, Georgia's offense punches it in and now has what should be a commanding lead against Tennessee's struggling offense.

Rantavious Wooten catches his first touchdown of the season, hauling in a nice pass from Aaron Murray.

There was a scare when AJ Green was sandwiched, somehow making a catch while also being interfered with. He was down a minute, but after a brief time on the sideline had his helmet back on.

2:15 left in first quarter, Georgia ups lead to 10-0

An interception leads to a field goal, and Georgia is still sitting pretty.

Bacarri Rambo's interception - courtesy of a Vance Cuff tip - set up the offense, which got into the red zone. The drive stalled on a third-down sack. Washaun Ealey got the tailback duties on that drive, rather than Caleb King, who had looked pretty good on the first drive.

Alec Ogletree came in on offense for one play. Lining up at receiver, he laid down a block for Washaun Ealey on a short run. That's at least some of the trickeration.

Cuff didn't start but he's played a lot - and just had a huge play for Georgia. He tipped Matt Sims' pass, and seconds later Rambo made a toe-tipping catch at midfield. Rambo's momentum carried him over the hedges, literally.

So on the first two possessions, Georgia's defense did what it hadn't been before: Stopping the opening drive, and getting a turnover. Two more very good signs for the Bulldogs.

And a good sign for the Bulldog offense: Kris Durham, questionable with a neck injury, is playing.

8:18 left in first quarter, Georgia takes 7-0 lead

Well, I'd say this one has started much better for Georgia.

The Bulldogs are off to a 7-0 lead thanks to Aaron Murray and his legs. The freshman quarterback just scampered 35 yards for a touchdown, taking advantage of a wide-open right side of the field. It was the second time that drive Murray decided very quickly to run the ball to the right, on what apparently was a pass-then-keep play.

That was nearly a perfect opening drive for Georgia, with very quick matriculation down the field.

Caleb King had a 14-yard run, making the first defender miss at the line. Aaron Murray kept it for a nine-yard run, on what might have been a designed pass, but A.J. Green was flattened. No matter, Murray hit Green a play later for a 12-yard gain.

Then came the Murray run.

I felt coming in that Georgia had a good chance to win this game rather convincingly, and so far I haven't seen anything to dissuade me.

10:44 left in first quarter

Well, there's one hopeful sign for Georgia. Its defense held on the first possession for the first time since the Louisiana-Lafayette game.

So there's one less question for Todd Grantham to get snippy about this week.

Tennessee got one first down, on a third-down sneak. But that was it, as Justin Houston made a big tackle behind the line on second down.

Shawn Williams, and not Jakar Hamilton, started at safety.

Vance Cuff replaced Abry Jones (a corner for an end) on second down. Looks like Georgia will playh a lot of nickel today.

In a bit of a surprise, A.J. Green was the punt return man for Georgia. Green was in the group getting reps there, but it was expected to be Logan Gray. But with Branden Smith and Carlton Thomas both out, there you go A.J., injury risk or not.