ATHENS — Georgia coach Kirby Smart credited the Sanford Stadium crowd for helping the Bulldogs offense get off to a fast start in a 41-31 win over Mississippi State on Saturday.

“I was really pleased with the crowd, the effort and the energy in the stadium really helped us,” said Smart, who called out the UGA fans after lackluster crowd noise during the win over Auburn the previous week.

The Bulldogs charged to a 27-10 halftime lead in a game that saw Carson Beck finish 36-of-48 passing for 459 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in the 41-31

Beck’s 36 completions and 459 yards through the air were career highs.

“I thought both teams in warm ups were lethargic and going through the motions and it wasn’t the energy it usually is,” Smart said in this locker room interview on the Georgia Radio Network.

“Then when we came out in the game, and I thought we started fast and did some good things.”

Georgia rolled up a season-high 605 yards, converting 5 of 10 third downs and 2 of 2 fourth-down attempts.

“Football is a situational game, last week against Auburn we won the two-minute before the half, won third downs,” Smart said. " Around here we built our program on winning situational football, and you can put yourself in position to be successful.

“We won most of those moments, but we have to play better in the second half.”

Mississippi State, with a freshman quarterback making his second career start, outscored UGA 21-14 in the second half.

Smart said he knows Georgia will have its work cut out at No. 1 Texas next Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Austin.

The Longhorns have won 12 in a row in Austin dating back to a loss to TCU in 2022.

“They are a really good team, they are really physical,” Smart said. " Anytime you play a team like that, you’ve got to be at your best.”

Smart likes the momentum Beck built with his career day, seemingly shrugging off his quaterback’s two interceptions.

“I thought Carson did some really good things, he had a tipped bal that goes for a pick,” Smart said, “but if you’re willing to throw the bal, you’ve got to be willing to have picks. It’s going happen.”

Beck had eight completions of 20 yards or more, adding an element to the offense that had been missing.

“We certainly need to be explosive,” Smart said. “Teams are explosive on us, (and) if teams are going to be explosive on us, we better be explosive on offense.”