As you’ll recall, I picked Texas Tech to beat Ole Miss in the Cotton Bowl. I was wrong. So where a lot of other people. Not only did we win, we did so in convincing fashion, beating them 47-34. In a poll on ESPN.com prior to the game, 94% of respondents picked Texas Tech to win the game. In the Lafayette County Bowl Pick, where surely at least 95% of participants are Ole Miss fans, only 46% picked Ole Miss to win. When your own fans don’t think you’re going to win, that’s not a good sign. The funny thing is, it could have been been a lot worse. We gave up a couple of touchdowns we shouldn’t have (after fumble and interception), and should have scored a couple that we didn’t (punt return called back and fumble on the one yard line).
Things didn’t look good right off the bat. With over five minutes left in the first quarter, we had given up a fumble and an interception, and Texas Tech was up 14-0. However, with a little more than a minute left in the first half, we took a 24-21 lead and never looked back.
Not only was this win a great way to end the season, but it’ll help us a lot going into next season too. You can’t underestimate what it’ll do for our recruiting.
But wait, there’s even more good news! Last week it was announced that Ole Miss football team was the best in the SEC, academically. We were also 13th best in the country.
I don’t try to hide the fact that I hate the University of Alabama; particularly their football team and their fans. I realize it’s not rational, but I can’t help it. I was taught to hate them from a very early age. I can remember pulling for Miami, against Alabama, in the 1992 national championship when I was only 11 years old. All that said, I had decided to pull for Alabama in the Sugar Bowl Friday night. I’m not sure why really. Perhaps it was because no one gave Utah a fighting chance? Of course Utah would stomp them. That’ll teach me to cheer for Alabama.
As for the Lafayette County Bowl Pick, I was doing great through the first twelve games. If I remember correctly, I was 33rd out of 576. However, then things went bad. I missed several picks in a row. I’ve done a little better over the last few games (despite my picking Texas Tech and Alabama), and as of tonight I’m 92nd. I’ve picked 20 out of 31 correctly. There are currently two people tied for the lead, and they have picked 24 correctly. Only five people have picked 23 correctly. Picking bowl winners is a tough business.