Georgia 26, Alabama 23

When Georgia and Alabama squared off Saturday, it was more like a heavyweight title bout.

Georgia landed tons of punches on Alabama for most of the fight, but the Crimson Tide fought back just when their backs were against the ropes.

In the deciding round, Alabama got a solid shot on the Bulldogs, but Georgia delivered a vicious uppercut that sent the Tide reeling to the mat and gave Georgia a 26-23 overtime win.

Trailing 20-13 late in the fourth quarter, John Parker Wilson led the Tide on an 88-yard drive to tie the game. Wilson scampered into the end zone from six yards out for the tying score.

Usually reliable Georgia kicker Brandon Coutu missed a 47-yard field goal as time expired in regulation to force overtime.

The Tide's offense was unable to move the ball in the overtime session, resulting in a 42-yard field goal by Leigh Tiffin. However, Georgia put any ideas of jubilation for Tide fans to rest when Matthew Stafford connected with Mikey Henderson on the first play of their possession for the dramatic win.

"I think there are a lot of lessons to be learned about how we played in the first half of the game," Alabama head coach Nick Saban said.

"I was concerned about the intensity, focus and concentration we had this week in practice, and I think it showed in the first half performance of the game. I think that was the worst we played all year long."

Alabama's offense struggled to consistently move the ball down the field the entire game, amassing just 349 yards.

The Tide only had 145 yards of offense in the first half, but Georgia had the ball nearly 20 minutes to Alabama's 10.

"We just weren't executing," quarterback John Parker Wilson said.

Wilson completed 17-of-35 passes for 185 yards.

Georgia scored on its first possession of the game as the Bulldogs converted three third down opportunities on screen passes. Stafford connected with Sean Bailey on a screen pass for 20 yards and a first down.

Three plays later, Stafford threw a screen to Knowshon Moreno, who rumbled 14 yards for a first down. Another three plays later, Stafford flipped a screen to Thomas Brown for a 10-yard touchdown.

Brandon Coutu connected on a 45-yard field goal in the second quarter to give Georgia a 10-0 lead.

With 44 seconds left in the half, Wilson and the Tide marched down the field to put a dent in the scoreboard before the half. Alabama went 46 yards to setup a 40-yard field goal by Tiffin to make it a one-score deficit at intermission.

The second half started inauspiciously for the Tide as Jonathan Lowe fumbled the kickoff, but the defense held, and the offense got a spark.

Terry Grant had two big carries down to the 1-yard line where Wilson tied the game with a sneak. However, Georgia answered right back to take a 17-10 lead with a nine-play, 73-yard drive that was capped by a 6-yard run by Moreno.

After a Coutu field goal to make it 20-10, Alabama mounted a drive at the midway point of the fourth quarter. Wilson found DJ Hall for a 21-yard gain near into the red zone. The play was initially ruled incomplete, but it was reversed after a video review.

Alabama couldn't put it in the end zone, however as Tiffin booted a 22-yard field goal to make it 20-13.

Late in the fourth, after a punt pinned Alabama at the 12-yard line, Wilson marched the Tide 88 yards to tie the game. The big play came when Wilson hit Keith Brown for a 43-yard gain into Georgia territory.

After a couple of big runs by Glen Coffee and Roy Upchurch, Wilson found the end zone on a scramble from six yards out.

The ending, however, was not as sweet as last week for the Tide.

"It hurts, but you've got to move on," Tide defensive back Simeon Castille said. "It's like last week with Arkansas. I mean, it was great, but you've still got to move on because you play a good team next week. That's what we're going to have to do this week."