12:18 - Welcome to today's slightly-delayed, in-game blog from the Tom Elam Press Box at Neyland Stadium. The Vols face off with conference foe Georgia today in search of Lane Kiffin's first conference win. As per SEC Media regulations, the blog will be slightly-delayed and only updated three times per quarter.

I hate to be the guy who calls a game a "must win", but this is as close to a "must win" as first year head coach Lane Kiffin has had in his Tennessee career. A win today over the Bulldogs would certainly go a long way in building the confidence in the players, coaches and fans that this football program is headed in the right direction. Stay tuned...

12:32 - Tennessee's opening drive looked promising as Jonathan Crompton completed his first two passes for lengthy gains to Luke Stocker and Quintin Hancock, but a Cody Sullins holding penalty stalled the drive just outside of field goal range. Tennessee needs to control the tempo, limit penalties and win the field position battle to help its struggling offense.

12:45 - Yet another big gain by Tennessee was negated by penalty. This time Gerald Jones was called for a block in the back during a Luke Stocker catch and run. The Bulldogs began their second possession deep in their own territory, but quarterback Joe Cox seems to be finding his rhythm. The Vols can't seem to get out of their own way on their offensive possessions (and, no, Crompton isn't to blame).

12:53 - After the first quarter of play, two things stick out in my mind: the Tennessee team on the field today reminds me of the team that took the field on Sept. 19 against Florida. The line is moving around Georgia's front seven, opening holes for the always hard-running Montario Hardesty and allowing Tennessee to control the game's tempo; the other noticeable trend is the amount of costly penalties the Vols have already committed. Three times on three drives, there have been costly penalties - certainly not the reputation for Lane Kiffin's Vols who are one of the least penalized teams in the SEC. Tennessee has the advantage, though, through the first quarter of a scoreless game.

1:02 - Tennessee capitalized on an eight play, 56-yard drive, resulting in a Jonathan Crompton to Gerald Jones touchdown pass. There's nothing that could help the Vols more than getting on the scoreboard first. Tennessee's drive began after a Joe Cox pass was deflected by Gerald Williams and intercepted by Chris Walker. Points off turnovers are always game-changing factors when all is said and done.

So much for momentum. Georgia's Brandon Boykin took the Tennessee kickoff back 100 yards for a touchdown; his second such return of the season. It was also the second time this season that the Tennessee kickoff team has given up a touchdown.

1:30 - Tennessee was quick to respond with a touchdown drive capped by a 31-yard touchdown pass from Jonathan Crompton to Denarious Moore. Georgia tacked on three points from a 52-yard Blair Walsh field goal. The kick, which probably would have been good from 65 yards out, cleared the cross bar by a solid ten yards. Tennessee holds a 14-10 lead in the second quarter.

1:49 - I'm not sure which is more surprising: the play of Jonathan Crompton (12 of 15, 205 yards, three TDs), Georgia's tissue-paper thin pass defense or Tennessee's persistence to play "Ba Wit Da Ba" by Kid Rock before every kickoff. As of now Tennessee leads 21-10 at halftime of a game it has dominated - minus the 100-yard kick return by Boykin. The offense is clicking on all cylinders, cont in what seems to be an up-tempo version of what the Vols did against Auburn last week. Speaking of the undefeated No. 17 Tigers, they trail 27-3 on the road at Arkansas just one week after finally cracking the AP Top 25.

The kicking game woes continue, Georgia blocked a Chad Cunningham punt that went out of the back of the endzone for a safety. The amount of time between the snap and Cunningham's kick could have been measured with a sun dial. Make that nine of 12 Georgia points coming by way of special teams. Don't be surprised if those two points come back to haunt the Vols in the second half.

1:53 - It's halftime at Neyland Stadium with the Vols leading 21-12. The Vols offense has compiled 253 yards on 31 plays and put 21 points on the board. A stark contrast from the same team that fell to Auburn last week. The Vols certainly need to limit penalties in the second half, after committing six costly penalties for 42 yards.

Tennessee needs to continue to control the game tempo with a steady, balanced offense. Crompton has played exceptionally well thus far, completing passes under pressure. The receivers have done their part with multiple good catches and running after the catch.

Montario Hardesty continues to be, well, Montario Hardesty. The Vols only ran for 48 yards on 16 attempts in the first half, but every yard has been earned by hard running and good cut backs by Hardesty and freshman Bryce Brown. Hardesty will leave a lot of NFL fans asking, 'Where did this guy come from?' on Sundays next fall.

The Tennessee defense has done more than its part, limiting Georgia to three points and just 156 total yards.

In other SEC action, No. 17 Auburn continues to trail Arkansas 27-3 at halftime. Also, Kentucky is leading South Carolina 17-14 in Columbia.

2:24 - The second half begins with another Georiga mistake. Quarterback Joe Cox floated a panic pass towards the Georgia sideline after recovering his own fumble on a broken play, Tennessee defensive back Dennis Rogan managed to intercept the pass and get two feet down in-bounds. The momentum continues to be in favor of the Vols. The drive stalled in the red zone and Tennessee settled for a 30-yard field goal from Daniel Lincoln. Make that 10 points off turnovers for the Vols, zero points off zero turnovers for the Bulldogs.

2:31 - Jonathan Crompton just had his first bad play of the day. A Crompton pass went off the fingertips Luke Stocker and was picked off and returned for a touchdown by Georgia's Bacarri Rambo. The pick-six brings the Bulldogs within five points, 24-19. It will be interesting to see how the Vols offense responds after its first major mistake of the day.

2:52 - I guess that could be considered a response. Montario Hardesty capped a eight play, 80-yard drive with a 39-yard touchdown run, building the Vols lead to 31-19. Every time Georgia has tried to turn the momentum in its favor, the Vols have quickly responded. The run put the Vols over the century mark for the day in the rushing category. Tennessee now has amassed 119 yards on 24 carries.

Well, make that another response. After forcing Georgia to punt, Tennessee scored on a 51-yard touchdown pass from Jonathan Crompton to Gerald Jones - the second scoring connection between the two on the day. Crompton is 18 of 24 for 301 yards and four scoring tosses and an interception.Uh oh, here comes "Ba Wit Da Ba", again. Vols 38, Georgia 19 after three quarters of play.

Total yards after three quarters: Tennessee 431, Georgia 165

3:12 - Eric Berry recovered and returned a Georgia fumble to the 14-yard line. The fumble was caused by Art Evans before being returned 46 yards by the Heisman-hopeful Berry. The recovery and return is one of the first big highlight plays of Berry's junior season. Good players are always around the ball, and Berry is someone who has a freakish ability to always be near the ball. The play was ruled a fumble, though; not counting towards Berry's career interception-return yard total. Berry now has three career fumble returns, totaling 101 return yards.

Freshman Bryce Brown scored from one yard out to make the score Tennessee 45, Georgia 14. Certainly something that will get some attention from the national media. Barring any monumental collapse by the Vols, score it Lane Kiffin 1, Mark Richt 0.

3:30 - With the fourth quarter winding down, Tennessee leads 45-19. What a day it has been for Jonathan Crompton and Lane Kiffin. The win today by the Vols certainly will give the Big Orange Nation something to talk about heading into the bye week and the match-up with rival Alabama in two weeks.