By Jojo Doria

Atlanta, GA

Freshman running back Kenny Hilliard rushed for 72 yards with three touchdowns and the top-ranked LSU Tigers overcame a sluggish start to pummel the Georgia Bulldogs, 42-10 in Saturday's SEC Championship game at Georgia Dome.

LSU solidified its spot in the BCS Championship game after blasting the 14th-ranked Bulldogs to claim an 11th SEC crown.

Trailing by 10 points at the end of the first quarter, cornerback and special team member Tyrann Mathieu sparked up Tigers by scoring on a 62-yard punt return just before the break.

Hilliard then took over the game in the third quarter, rushing for two touchdowns and then catching a TD pass from quarterback Jeffrey Jordan to put the Tigers ahead, 28-10.

The Tigers once again leaned on their potent running game as sophomore running back Alfred Blue scored on a 48-yard run to give them an insurmountable 35-10 advantage.

Cornerback Morris Claiborne put the icing on the cake for the Tigers after he picked off Bulldogs quarterback Aaron Murray and returned it 45-yards for a score.

Jefferson covered just for 30 yards with one TD, but it was enough to give the Tigers a shot at the BCS National title.

Murray went 16-for-40 for 163 yards with one TD and two interceptions.

The Tigers will bring their undefeated slate in the BCS championship game, where their opponent could be either Alabama or Oklahoma State, which humbled Oklahoma, 44-10 in their Big 12 encounter Saturday.

 

 

Mathieu, Hilliard Spark LSU to Rout of Georgia in SEC Title Clash