Georgia @ Ole Miss November 20, 1999. 27 years. How does that happen?
I was with my Aunt Barbara and my son, Jarrett, when I first laid eyes on a redshirt freshman named Eli Manning, as the Rebels were doing their “Walk” into the stadium surrounded by Reb well-wishers. Schools do this everywhere. I can attest it was warmer in Oxford that day than it was in South Bend two Novembers ago when I watched the Irish “walk” from the church to the stadium. Not a bad tradition by any stretch.
The Rebs lost to the Bulldogs that November night so many years ago. 20-17 was the final in a late Saturday Night kick. I think I wrote about this last season when the Rebs played and defeated the Bulldogs in the College Football Playoff. I was watching in a Los Angeles hotel, with Jarrett, after we had just watched the Indiana Hoosiers dismantle the Alabama Crimson Tide in The Rose Bowl.
Precious memories all.
So what song is on my mind today as the Ole Miss Rebels host the Georgia Bulldogs tonight? Hotty Toddy, of course.
We need to get to this week’s picks.
BYU beats Utah… TV making these guys kick off at 10 AM for a game this size is pathetic.
Missouri beats Texas… Yes, and not just because I am not a great fan of Texas. When Missouri is at home for a big one, they can bite.
UCLA beats Minnesota… The Bruins want to keep a roll going and playing on the road might be a welcome sight-playing in a full stadium.
Purdue beats Maryland… The Boilermakers dust off a loss in a big way.
Wisconsin beats Rutgers… The Badgers got tamed by Iowa last week. They rebound this week.
South Carolina beats Texas A&M… Look for the Gamecocks to keep rolling. A&M Coach Elko feels more heat.
Alabama beats LSU… No, I really believe that too. The script wants LSU to make it to build the narrative and feed off the Lane Kiffin soap opera and the SEC’s never-ending talking season. I think Bama can pull this off by intercepting Sam Leavitt a few times. This is a big moment.
Ohio State beats Oregon… The Buckeyes are hurt. The Ducks are hurting.
Washington beats Penn State… The Happy Valley guys aren’t so happy.
Kentucky beats Tennessee… The Wildcats are solid and won’t be intimidated by 100,000 in Neyland. This Kentucky team is solid as solid is solid.
Ole Miss beats Georgia… Good things are happening in Oxford. I wouldn’t want to be the visiting team going in there.
Iowa beats Northwestern… Playing in the new Ryan Stadium, the Hawkeyes stay grounded after blanking Wisconsin.
Georgia Tech beats Louisville… This has been the year of the Louisville letdown. Don’t enjoy it. That’s what I am looking for tonight.
Notre Dame beats Miami… The team that makes the fewest mistakes will win. The U is missing their best player in wide out Malachi Toney. The Irish pull off a good one.
Enjoy this wonderful November Saturday.