Steve Spurrier's trademark quick hook with his quarterbacks paid off, as back-up signal-caller Stephen Garcia came off the bench to lead the Gamecocks to a 24-17 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats. Trailing in the third quarter, Spurrier replaced starter Chris Smelley with Garcia, who was a heralded recruit coming out of high school but has had difficulties staying out of trouble with the law. He rallied the Gamecocks to 10 unanswered points, giving South Carolina the lead for good. South Carolina's Captain Munnerlyn contributed a touchdown on a blocked field goal return, and also set up a score with a long kickoff return.
Vols off to worst start in 20 years
Matthew Stafford threw two interceptions as No. 10 Georgia struggled before putting away the Tennessee Volunteers 26-14. The Bulldogs only led by the score of 20-14 entering the fourth quarter, but two field goals by Blair Walsh put the game out of reach. Fullback Brannan Southerland, older brother of incoming Vanderbilt recruit Blake Southerland, scored Georgia's first touchdown. Stafford threw for a career-best 309 yards, but could only muster one touchdown pass as the struggling Volunteers kept him from lighting up the scoreboard. Heisman Trophy-candidate Knowshon Moreno ran for 102 yards on 27 carries but could not find the end zone for the first time this season after registering 10 scores in his first five games. Tennessee, meanwhile, has lost its first three conference games for the first time in 20 years.
Auburn stunned at home
The Arkansas Razorbacks rebounded from three consecutive blowout losses to defeat the No. 20 Auburn Tigers 25-22 on the strength of 176 yards rushing by Michael Smith and a late goal-line stand by their defense. In their first game after offensive coordinator Tony Franklin was fired, the Auburn offense still struggled to do anything positive, only scoring one touchdown. Tristan Davis contributed the only other score on a 97-yard kickoff return. The Tigers made it interesting at the end, as they forced a safety by Arkansas's punter to cut the lead to three points with less than two minutes left. But Arkansas's Matt Harris intercepted Kodi Burns with 29 seconds left to shut the door on Auburn.
Gators romp in the Swamp
The No. 12 Florida Gators jumped out to a 20-point lead in the first half as they coasted to a 51-21 victory over No. 3 LSU. Florida's Tim Tebow threw for two touchdowns to Percy Harvin and rushed for a touchdown of his own as the Gators piled it on early and often. Linebacker Brandon Spikes had two interceptions for the Gators, one of which he returned for a touchdown. The Gators held LSU to four offensive yards in the first quarter as the outcome was never in doubt.
Did You Know?
The Arkansas Razorbacks had been outscored 139-31 in their last three games before Saturday's victory against No. 20 Auburn.
South Carolina's Kenny McKinley broke former NFL All-Pro Sterling Sharpe's school record with his 170th career reception.
Tennessee only mustered 1 yard rushing as their loss to Georgia sent them to their worst start in 20 years.
After averaging only 30 penalty yards per game through the first five games of the season, the Commodores committed season-highs of 10 penalties for 65 yards in their sloppy loss to Mississippi State.
