Spurrier continued to rotate Rex Grossman and Jesse Palmer, who made enough plays to overcome their mistakes as the No. 7 Gators stayed in the national championship hunt with a 34-23 victory over the 12th-ranked Bulldogs.

Spurrier benched Grossman after he threw three interceptions in the first half that helped Georgia open a second-quarter lead, then had to go back to him after Palmer sprained an ankle in the final period.

Grossman, a freshman, came in leading the country in passing efficiency with just one interception. But Palmer was far more effective, leading a comeback with a touchdown pass and scoring run.

Grossman completed 12-of-24 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown and Palmer was 6-of-12 for 95 yards and a score. Together, they were slightly more effective than Georgia's Quincy Carter, who was 20-of-39 for 240 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions.

In the Southeastern Conference showdown known as the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party," the Gators have the Bulldogs drowning their sorrows for the 10th time in the last 11 meetings.

Florida (7-1, 5-1 SEC East) moved into a tie for the top spot in the division with South Carolina, which lost today. The Gators meet the Gamecocks on November 11. The Bulldogs (6-2, 4-2) fell a game back and have lost to both schools.

Grossman threw an interception on Florida's first scrimmage play. He bounced back with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Jabbar Gaffney and Florida opened a 9-3 lead on a 37-yard field goal by Jeff Chandler in the final minute of the opening quarter.

But Grossman's problems continued in the second quarter with a pair of pickoffs, including one off a deflection returned 37 yards by Tim Wansley. Two plays later, Musa Smith banged in from the 4 to give Georgia a 10-9 lead with 5:23 remaining in the second quarter.

Palmer took over on the next series but on the second play lost the exchange from center. Will Witherspoon recovered at the 42 and Brett Millican took a screen pass down the left sideline to the 1, where Smith bulled in again for a 17-9 advantage just 34 seconds later.

Carter had the Bulldogs driving for another score when Sheppard came off his man and made the interception at the 13. He ran right across and upfield, sidestepping tacklers while using his blockers before being taken down at the Georgia 26. Three plays later, Palmer found Reggie Gillespie with a 14-yard TD pass and his conversion toss tied it, 17-17, with 30 seconds before the half.

Chandler, who earlier missed an extra point, opened the second half with a 54-yard field goal that gave the Gators the lead for good. Florida forced a punt and Palmer engineered an 82-yard drive, sneaking in from the 1 on the 10th play to make it 27-17 with just under five minutes left in the third period.

Carter threw an interception on Georgia's next possession but Witherspoon tracked down Palmer and rolled on his right ankle. Grossman came on and threw an incompletion that forced a punt and Carter threw a rollout one-yard TD pass to Jasper Sanks on fourth down.

However, the Bulldogs botched the snap on the extra point and never scored again. Carter was sacked by Clint Mitchell and Alex Brown and fumbled, with Florida's Guss Scott recovering at the Georgia 29.

On the next play, Grossman lofted a beautiful pass down the left sideline to Reche Caldwell, who hauled it in at the 2. Gillespie went in for the clinching score with 4:42 left and Byron Hardmon picked off Carter on the next possession.

Gaffney caught eight passes for 138 yards and Gillespie ran for 79 yards on 15 carries for the Gators, who surrendered three sacks and three fourth-down conversions by the Bulldogs.

Carter added 53 yards on 12 carries and Smith added 50 on 12 for Georgia, which held a 413-316 edge in total yards but committed 10 penalties for 94 yards.