The magical year just may have more magic remaining than anyone can imagine!
After watching the college playoff rankings last night, the stars could not be aligning anymore perfectly for this season’s ending. To begin, State’s remaining in the Top 4 for the playoff could not be more ideal for the Egg Bowl confrontation. True, they have Vanderbilt left to play in Starkville, but Vandy’s chances of competing (the Dores are 30 point dogs) are almost zero.
In addition, the Arkansas shutout victory over LSU now gives the Hogs a great deal more credibility than at any point this season. Paul Finebaum said yesterday that Ole Miss was the “best two loss team in the nation.” I’ll expand on that thought — Arkansas is the “best 5-5 team in the nation” as well. It would be difficult to find one better unless one can make a case for Tennessee. How both Arkansas and Tennessee perform Saturday will ultimately answer that question (TN hosts MO).
The teams between Ole Miss and the fourth spot are TCU, Ohio State and Baylor. I cannot see an Ole Miss team with a 10-2 record having beaten both Alabama (now ranked No. 1) and Mississippi State being left out by the committee. I just can’t see it. Of course, there are still those two very difficult games left to play.
The motivation is definitely there. Who would have even guessed way back in August that the Arkansas game would have this level of importance? Had you told me that it would be the SEC Game of the Week on CBS, I would not have believed it.
In conclusion, the stage could not be set much better. Let’s pray for a victory Saturday (Vegas is calling for a 24-21 Ole Miss win) and should our prayers be answered, this Egg Bowl in 2014 will be this century’s “game of games” with only 85 more left to play!
Steve Vassallo is a HottyToddy.com contributor. Steve writes on Ole Miss athletics, Oxford business, politics and other subjects. He is an Ole Miss grad and former radio announcer for the basketball team. In addition, he is a certified economic and community developer and currently, a highly successful leader in the real estate business with Premier Properties of Oxford.You can contact Steve at sovassallo@gmail.com or call him at 985-852-7745.
