Over after turnovers : govolsxtra.com

ATLANTA - If Tennessee were going to crack under a relentless LSU assault Saturday in the Georgia Dome, the defense was the leading suspect.

LSU kept piling up the yards, the first downs and the minutes of possession. But the Tigers' side of the scoreboard didn't match the prolific statistics.

Somehow, Tennessee kept hanging around and an SEC championship was hanging in the balance after three quarters.

But in the end, it wasn't the defense that finally blinked.

Instead, the Vols' offense offered up the game-winning score.

LSU's Jonathan Zenon intercepted an Erik Ainge pass and returned it 18 yards for a touchdown to deliver a 21-14 victory that sends the No. 7 Tigers on to the Sugar Bowl as SEC champions.

Zenon's interception and score with 9:54 to play erased a hard-earned 14-13 Tennessee lead.

The Vols had a promising chance to tie the game but Ainge was intercepted again by Darry Beckwith at the LSU 7 with 2:42 to play.

LSU (11-2) ran out the clock and 14th-ranked Tennessee (9-4) was left to ponder a third consecutive loss in the championship game since its back-to-back titles in 1997-98.

"They all hurt the same,'' said UT coach Phillip Fulmer.

"We had our opportunities and didn't quite get it done.''

The Vols are left with the consolation of an invitation tonight to either the Outback or Chick-fil-A bowls.

Indications Saturday favored the Outback in Tampa, Fla., on New Year's Day against Wisconsin.

LSU claimed its third SEC title in seven years. But it didn't come easy.

"They're a tremendously physical football team and they were a worthy opponent,'' said LSU coach Les Miles of Tennessee.

LSU, two triple-overtime losses from an unbeaten season, rolled up 464 yards and held the ball for 36:08, compared to 343 yards and 23:52 for Tennessee.

Still, the Tigers managed only one offensive touchdown, a 27-yard TD pass from Ryan Perrilloux to Demetrius Byrd on the opening drive of the third quarter.

Perrilloux, standing in for injured starter Matt Flynn, was 20-of-30 passing for 243 yards and was named the most valuable player.

Ironically, when LSU beat Tennessee in this game in this dome in 2001, it was also a back-up quarterback, Matt Mauck, who was LSU's MVP.

Byrd's score put LSU up 13-7.

Sparked by Eric Berry's fumble recovery, Tennessee struck back with a 66-yard drive. Ainge's 6-yard TD pass to Josh Briscoe restored Tennessee to a 14-13 lead.

Berry then intercepted a Perrilloux pass and returned it to the LSU 37.

A Tennessee majority in the crowd of 73,832 sensed a knockout punch. It wasn't coming, however.

Daniel Lincoln, who had earlier missed a 30-yard field goal, missed from 51 yards as the third quarter ended.

The teams swapped punts and Tennessee took over at its 9 with 10:50 to play.

On third-and-5, Ainge looked to his right for Quintin Hancock, but Zenon snatched the pass and had clear sailing to the end zone.

"I made pretty good decisions all day,'' said Ainge. "It takes one play to get you beat.''

One of his good decisions was an 11-yard touchdown pass to Chris Brown on the game's opening possession.

UT made the 7-0 lead stand for a half, as LSU dominated but could counter only with a pair of 30-yard field goals from Colt David.

Ainge finished 20-of-40 for 249 yards, but would have loved to had the throw back that ended up in Zenon's hands.

"When I seen the formation,'' said Zenon, "I knew exactly what they were going to run and I was able to jump in front and get it.''

Perrilloux ran in the two-point conversion and LSU led 21-14.

Tennessee then drove to the LSU 21, but came up empty when Denarious Moore failed to hold on to an Ainge pass on fourth-and-4.

The Vols' defense forced a three-and-out and Tennessee had one more chance, taking over at its 34 with 4:10 play.

Ainge and Arian Foster hooked up on a 47-yard connection to the LSU 14. All of a sudden Tennessee was in striking range of forcing a third overtime game of the season.

But on the next play, Beckwith intercepted Ainge and the Vols wouldn't touch the ball again.

"You win and lose as a team,'' Fulmer said. "And Erik Ainge is one of the reasons we're here.''

Tennessee had only spotty success against an LSU defense ranked third in the nation in yards allowed.

After the game-opening touchdown drive, the Vols managed only two first downs and 36 yards the rest of the half.

Twice Tennessee squandered excellent field position, once after an SEC championship-game-record 50-yard kickoff return by Lennon Creer.

The Tigers dominated the stats and the clock. They did everything but find the end zone.

For that, they ultimately needed help from Tennessee's offense.

Over after turnovers

It's likely Outback after Ainge throws two costly interceptions