Tide capitalize on fumble to extend lead

Georgia trailed 7-0 its past seven games. So a great start was a bad sign.

All told, a miserable first half for a Georgia team that started so well. The only good omen? It trailed at halftime the last time these two teams met. But that was a three-point lead, which at least seemed manageable for Georgia when it looked like it would be done 10-7.

Instead it's 17-7, after a finish where Nick Saban won the strategy battle and Jalen Milroe beat Georgia's secondary. Did Kirby Smart screw up by calling a timeout, giving Saban time to think about going for it? Maybe, but the Georgia defense ultimately gave up the big pass that took a third-and-21 to fourth-and-4. Then the defense gave up two more long passes, converting the fourth down and then getting the touchdown.

Georgia's offense, meanwhile, went from a dominating opening drive to an overly-conservative, ineffective rest of the half: 55 yards on 18 plays. Carson Beck went from 62 yards on five passes on the opening drive to 23 yards on six passes the next three drives.

Georgia gets the ball to start the second half. If its offense returns to regular-season form it can get back in this quickly.

But can it?

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