Orlando, Fla. ? Matthew Stafford threw three touchdown passes in the second half, hitting Knowshown Moreno for the clinching score to lead No. 16 Georgia over No. 19 Michigan State, 24-12, Thursday in the Capital One Bowl.

Ranked No. 1 early this season, the Bulldogs (10-3) gave coach Mark Richt his sixth bowl victory in eight tries.

Stafford was just 6-for-14 with an interception in the first half. After that, he looked more like the quarterback that NFL teams covet — if he decides to pass up his senior season — in going 14-for-17 and the three scores in a span of 18 minutes.

Stafford was picked as the game’s MVP, completing his performance by showing a nice touch in threading a 21-yard TD pass to Moreno late in the fourth quarter. Stafford set a single-season school record with 25 touchdown passes.

The loss by Michigan State (9-4) left Big Ten teams 1-5 in bowls this season. Penn State and Ohio State were underdogs in their later bowls.

The expected showdown between star running backs Javon Ringer and Moreno never materialized. Moreno ran for 62 yards on 23 carries; Ringer had 47 yards and a TD on 20 carries.

Neither team mustered much on offense in the first half. Stafford and the Bulldogs broke loose in the third quarter, with Michael Moore catching a 35-yard touchdown passes and Aron White catching a 21-yard TD toss.