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There was a time, not that long ago, when it seemed like Georgia winning the SEC East was out of the question. South Carolina had just waxed the Dawgs 35-7, and Florida was looking like it might be the best team in the division. There might be a way for Georgia to overcome one of them; both seemed a bit much to ask.
But it was Georgia who went to a rival's stadium on Saturday night and easily won the game that gave it the SEC East title. The result wasn't really that much of a surprise, even if it was more of an incineration than an simple defeat. Georgia gained 497 yards of total offense on the night, took a 28-0 lead with more than five minutes to go in the third quarter, and limited Auburn to just 238 yards.
Even beyond that, everything seemed to go the Dawgs' way. The famed "Gurshall" pairing finally reappeared in full force, with Todd Gurley running for 116 yards and one touchdown on 11 carries and Keith Marshall adding 105 yards and another touchdown on eight rushes. Aaron Murray was 18-of-24 for 208 yards and three touchdowns. Auburn turned the ball over twice.
As elating as the win was for those on the Georgia sideline, it was that deflating for the players on coaches on the home side of the field. The game was played before a stadium that was largely empty by the end, and Gene Chizik's job security seemed to be a foregone conclusion, not something that was open for debate.
That's a footnote, though, to the news of the evening. They might have been counted out at one point, but Georgia will represent the SEC East in Atlanta. And anyone who thinks they don't have a chance against Alabama -- or any other team emerging from the SEC West -- hasn't been watching Georgia beat the odds all season.