ATLANTA, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Musa Smith ran for 106 yards and two touchdowns Saturday night as the fourth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs built a 23-point halftime lead and coasted to a 30-3 victory over No. 22 Arkansas in the Southeastern Conference Championship game.
The Bulldogs (12-1) captured their first SEC title since 1982, when Herschel Walker led Georgia to a 11-0 regular season and the top ranking in the country. Georgia was denied a national championship when it lost to Penn State in the Sugar Bowl.
Georgia, currently third in the Bowl Championship Series standings, was still in contention for a national title entering Saturday. But those hopes ended when Miami defeated Virginia Tech earlier in the day.
Under second-year coach Mark Richt, the Bulldogs will settle for a trip to either the Orange or Sugar Bowls. Georgia matched a school record with its 12th win, last set in their national title season of 1980.
David Greene completed 17 of 29 passes for 237 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown pass to Benjamin Watson early in the fourth quarter.
Arkansas (9-4) advanced to the SEC title for the first time since 1995 with a last-second win over Louisiana State last week. But the Razorbacks were never competitive Saturday night before a capacity crowd at the Georgia Dome that heavily favored the Bulldogs.
Richie Butler had a punt blocked by Decory Bryant on the Razorbacks' first possession and Michael Johnson returned it seven yards to the Arkansas two. Musa, who carried 19 times, went into the end zone on the next play.
The Bulldogs kept up the pace on their next possession. Greene completed passes of 18 yards to Terrence Edwards and 22 yards to J.T. Wall and Smith soon followed with 16-yard touchdown run just 6:11 into the game.
Billy Bennett added field goals of 42, 29 and 39 yards to build the halftime lead to 23-0.
The Razorbacks collected just 139 yards overall and had a mere eight in the first quarter. They avoided a shutout with a 27-yard field goal by David Carlton in the third period.
