ATHENS, Georgia (Ticker) -- No. 6 Georgia moved one step closer to a return trip to the Southeastern Conference championship game, relying on the kicking of Billy Bennett and its usual stout defense to post a 30-10 victory over Kentucky.
The Bulldogs (8-2, 6-2 SEC East) struggled in the red zone, but Bennett kicked field goals of 29, 29 and 33 yards to become the SEC's all-time leading scorer with 382 points. He also set an SEC mark with 81 career field goals.
Playing its final conference game, Georgia assured itself of at least a tie for the SEC East title with Florida. Tennessee can make it a three-way deadlock by winning its final game next week against Kentucky.
However, the SEC's new tiebreaker - ranking in the BCS standings - favors the Bulldogs, provided they beat Georgia Tech next week.
"Hopefully, we'll take care of business next week and Tennessee will take care of business," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. We're just happy to be in that position (to play for the SEC championship)."
David Greene's 41-yard pass to Fred Gibson set up Michael Cooper's 10-yard touchdown run just 75 seconds into the game. Kentucky (4-7, 1-6) answered on its opening possession as Jared Lorenzen completed 4-of-4 passes for 44 yards on a 70-yard march he capped with a one-yard keeper.
But the Bulldogs, ranked second in the nation in scoring defense at 11.5 points per game, allowed only a field goal over the final 3 1/2 quarters.
"The score does not indicate how close the game was," Lorenzen said. "We were right there with them for most of the game. You have to give Georgia's defense credit. You have (defensive end David) Pollack coming around the corner on nearly every play."
Jeremy Thomas scored his first career touchdown for the Bulldogs with a one-yard run early in the second quarter while Tim Jennings' interception set up Ronnie Powell's eight-yard TD scamper with just under five minutes left in the contest.
Greene completed 24-of-38 passes for 289 yards without an interception for the Bulldogs. Gibson finished with six receptions for 99 yards.
Lorenzen, who was battling an upset stomach, completed 21-of-34 passes for just 137 yards. The Wildcats were held to just to 142 yards after their opening drive.
"Our main objective all week was to get him (Lorenzen) and try to wrap him up and bring him down," Georgia defensive tackle Gerald Anderson said. "All we had to do was go out and execute, and we did that."
