ATHENS, Ga. (AP) - Forget the blackout. This was an early

knockout.

Backed by a dominant defense and John Parker Wilson's accurate

passing, No. 8 Alabama raced to a stunning 31-point lead by

halftime against self-destructing Georgia and held on to beat the

third-ranked Bulldogs 41-30 Saturday night, establishing Nick

Saban's team as a national championship contender in his second

season.

Georgia (4-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) became the third team

in the top four to fall on a devastating week for ranked teams,

joining No. 1 USC and No. 4 Florida in the loss column.

Alabama (5-0, 2-0) is poised to move up at least three or four

spots when the new poll comes out Sunday, and the Tide certainly

looked as impressive as anyone all year in winning decisively on

the road against a team that started the season at the top of the

heap.

Wilson went 13-of-16 passing for 205 yards and a touchdown,

while Glenn Coffee ran for two scores in a game that wasn't nearly

as close as the final score. Georgia scored two touchdowns in the

waning minutes.

Not even the most optimistic Alabama fan could have expected

Saban, who won a national championship at LSU, to turn the Tide so

quickly. This again looks like a program more in keeping with the

tradition of Bear Bryant, not Saban predecessor Mike Shula.

Looking for a motivational edge, Georgia came out wearing black

jerseys, and most of its fans at 92,000-seat Sanford Stadium also

took part in the "blackout." But the biggest cheers came from the

white-clad Alabamians sprinkled throughout the massive stands.

Georgia showed some disturbing tendencies even while winning its

first four games, and those sure came back to bite the Bulldogs.

They were flagged twice in the opening half for roughing the

passer, crucial but familiar mistakes for a team that already was

the most penalized in the SEC. Also, an offensive line featuring

two freshman and two sophomores was no match for Alabama's massive

front led by 365-pound Terrence Cody.

Knowshon Moreno got only nine carries for 34 yards, and

quarterback Matthew Stafford spent much of the game running for his

life as Georgia's 11-game winning streak ended.

The Bulldogs actually made Alabama a little nervous in the

opening minute of the fourth quarter, closing to 31-17 on Prince

Miller's 92-yard punt return. But the Tide calmly wrapped it up on

the next possession, driving 51 yards in eight plays for Leigh

Tiffin's second field goal.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)