ATHENS, Ga. – Carson Beck silenced his critics by throwing for two touchdowns and running for another on a rough Saturday night between the hedges, leading No. 12 Georgia to a 31-17 victory over No. 7 Tennessee, which provided a huge boost to Bulldogs College Football Playoff expectations.

Georgia (8-2, 6-2 Southeastern Conference) bounced back from a 28-10 loss at Ole Miss, leaving the Bulldogs just outside the 12-team preliminary postseason field.

Now they’re positioned for a likely playoff berth — and a shot at winning their third national title in four years — if they can close out the regular season with wins over UMass and Georgia Tech.

Tennessee (8-2, 5-2) could have taken a big step closer to a spot in the SEC championship game, but the Vols’ postseason prospects are now a lot bleaker after what had everything to do with an elimination game in the playoffs.

In the midst of a disappointing season, Beck stepped up in a big way for the Bulldogs when they needed him most, leading them to a 29th straight home win in an FBS-leading streak that dates back to 2019.

He connected on a pair of touchdown passes to Oscar Delp in the first half and rushed to the lead in the third quarter, shooting 10 yards to the end zone for his first rushing TD of the season.

Georgia sealed the victory with a 92-yard drive – its longest of the season – in the closing minutes. Nate Frazier topped it off with a 2-yard touchdown run with 2:26 left.

Beck, who had thrown 12 interceptions in the previous six games, had no picks against the Volunteers. He completed 25 of 40 passes for 347 yards.

With quarterback Nico Iamaleava cleared to play after clearing the concussion protocol, Tennessee jumped out to a 10-0 lead after Miles Kitselman’s 1-yard plunge and Max Gilbert’s 52-yard field goal, lifting the mood of more than 93,000 people at the Sanford Stadium was dampened.

But the Bulldogs, after a slow start that has become their trademark, took the lead when Beck connected with Delp on similar scoring passes from 19 and 4 yards into the back of the end zone.

Dylan Sampson put the Vols back in front with his 21st rushing touchdown of the season, a 27-yard run through a huge hole right down the middle.

But Beck guided the Bulldogs into position for Peyton Woodring’s 36-yard field goal with 5 seconds remaining in the half, sending the teams to the locker room tied at 17.

The takeaway

Tennessee: The Vols defense hadn’t allowed more than 19 points all season, but they couldn’t contain the Beck-led offense. Georgia racked up 454 yards and 24 first downs while converting eight of thirteen third-down chances and continues to dominate the series with its rival to the north, winning for the eighth straight year – all by a margin of at least two touchdowns .

Georgia: The Bulldogs played without top running back Travis Etienne, who was sidelined with a rib problem, and the offense took another blow when receiver Dillon Bell went out with an ankle injury suffered from a hit along the sideline late in the first half. But Frazier rushed for 68 yards and London Humphreys stepped up and made three huge catches for 63 yards. Kudos to the offensive line, which didn’t give up a sack after Beck was dumped five times by Ole Miss the week before.

Next

Tennessee: The Vols return home next Saturday to take on UTEP before wrapping up the regular season with a quick trip to Nashville to take on Vanderbilt on Nov. 30.

Georgia: With their SEC schedule complete, the Bulldogs close out the regular season with two non-conference games at home. UMass (2-8) shouldn’t be much of a problem next Saturday.