Author: rickro51 Page 2 of 35

Early last week, the Ole Miss Athletic Department announced that Lane Kiffin’s coaching future would be determined by Friday’s Egg Bowl at Starkville.

Then, late last week, there was a revised announcement that there would not be announcement until AFTER the Egg Bowl.  One does not need to be a card sharp to see who holds the cards and who caused the slight, but important, revision in Ole Miss’ posture.

Why did Lane Kiffin force this slight, but important revision in Ole Miss’ stance?

The Odyssey offers several Scenarios and invite you to comment as to which is the most likely.

SCENARIO A:

Kiffin knows he is leaving.  He has reached a detente with the AD to not announce until  after the Egg Bowl – on the theory that the players might be down if Kiffin announced his leaving before the Egg Bowl.   Under this scenario, he would not coach Ole Miss in the playoff should the Rebels prevail.

Probability:  30%

SCENARIO B:

Kiffin will stay at Ole Miss if they win the Egg Bowl.  If not, he says goodbye to Oxford.  Kiffin is smart enough to know that if the Rebels make the playoff and he bolts, the negative national perception  will be quite strong..  This situation is somewht reminiscent of the Les Miles situation at the end of 2007.  He was allegedly planning to leave LSU for his alma mater, Michigan, until the Bayou Bengals backed into the national title game with 2 losses.  Miles stayed in the Bayou.

Probability:  40%

SCENARIO C:

Kiffin will remain the Ole Miss coach until the end of the season, including the playoffs, then bolt.  The transfer portal and recruiting windows make this approach less than ideal for Florida and LSU.

Probability: 20%

SCENARIO D:

Kiffin plans to stay at Ole Miss, regardless of the season’s outcome.  Kiffin loves the attention and would perversely enjoy throwing a wrench in the planning for LSU and Florida, particularly LSU.  He has that type of mischievous nature!

Probability: 10%

We have previously chronicaled how Oregon State blew games against Fresno State and Sam Houston State due to epic special team failures.  Last Saturday, Utah State suffered the same fate at UNLV.

Regulation ended at 23 all.  Utah State’s place kicker, Tanner Dinker, had to feel terrible.  He missed a game winning 42 yarder that would have won the game in regulation.  It was his 2nd missed Field Goal of the game in addition to a missed extra point.  Dinker had yet another chance for salvation with a game winning 41-yarder in overtime.  Dinked again as the squads went to double overtime.  The Rebels eventually scored a winning TD to win 29-26.   DInker’s failures were perplexing as he was 10 for 10 on Field Goals leading into their UNLV tilt.

The impact of special teams keeps getting undervalued even with yet another graphic example of its import.

The Odyssey was eager to be in attendance at Snapdragon Stadium for Saturday night’s pivotal Saturday night game as San Diego State hosted Boise State.  The irony of Hammond’s huge 1972 hit, “It Never Rains in Southern California” was present as intermittent showers had an impact on game planning.  Of course, what did Hammond really know about our weather?  After all, he was English!

The first quarter was a punt-fest as rushing attempts were repeatedly rebuffed.  We wondered if Veterans Day was celebrated 4 days late as one could have sworn that a rushing-addicted game between service academies had broken out.  Which could make sense given the military’s still strong presence in San Diego.

The second quarter actually produced 3 TD’s as the Aztecs went into halftime with a 14-7 lead.  If the second half was a Broadway show, it would have folded after opening week as San Diego State triumphed, 17-7.  SDSU did set a record as no game-winning team had fewer passing yards than the Aztecs’ 17!  Not that Boise State was an aerial circus with backup QB Max Cutforth.  At the end of the 3rd quarter, the 2 teams had combined for 28 passing yards.

The Aztecs win sent Mountain West fans scurrying to the rule book to see how tiebreakers might effect who will play for the Mountain West championship.  SDSU is the only 1-loss team.  New Mexico, UNLV, Boise, Hawaii and Fresno all have 2 losses.  The Aztecs do not have clear sailing as they have a dangerous road game at New Mexico on November 29.

Our presence at Snapdragon did produce some sadness.  As we viewed the sparse crowd, we wondered if some of the falling rain were actually tears from Don Coryell in football heaven.   The legendary Aztec coach had a high flying offense which often played in front of crowds of 50,000 at a point when San Diego had a pro team and much less population.

We also wondered about SDSU’s football season.  How could a team look quite good in their 8 wins yet so horrid in 2 lopsided  road losses to Hawaii and Washington State?  That sums up the unknowable beauty of college football.

Most nightmares are temporary.  When you wake up, you feel massive relief.

It would be refreshing to report that Oregon State has woken up from its nightmare – but, sadly, untrue.

The Pac 12 started to unravel in 2022 when USC and UCLA defected to the Big 10.  The powers that be diddled for the next year and could not come to an agreeable deal with legacy media.  A potential streaming deal was viewed as too dicey.  Eight of the 10 remaining members scattered to 3 conferences, leaving Oregon State and Washington State as orphans.

Oregon State had a very good team in 2023 that could not quite get over the hump.  The Beavers’ vastly diminished financial resources caused Jonathan Smith to bolt Corvallis along with prized QB, Aidan Chiles  at the end of the 2023 season That Smith had quarterbacked one of the greatest Beaver teams of all time under Dennis Erickson added considerable salt to a gaping wound upon his exit.

2024’s mediocre 5-7 mark looks fantastic compared to this year’s 2-8 dumpster fire.  After starting 0-7, the Beavers were riding a 2-game winning streak as winless Sam Houston State ventured to Corvallis last Saturday.  The Beavers were a 20 point favorite against the hapless Bearkats.  To demonstrate how much saturation of TV games exists, this clunker of a game was televised on CW.  Our sincerest condolences went out to Ted Robinson, the peerless commentator who was saddled with this lemon.

At halftime, the score was close to predicted:  17-7 in favor of Oregon State.  The yardage starts for the game verified the wisdom of the Beavers being a big favorite as OSU outgained SHSU by over 300 yards (472 vs 157).  HOWEVER!

Sam Houston State returned the opening 2nd half kickoff for a TD and later returned a blocked punt for another TD.  21-17 for Sam Houston State.  SHSU appeared in control in the game’s final two minutes, having the ball at their 30 with Oregon State down to their last timeout.  Instead of running the ball on 3rd and 8 as Ryan Leaf insisted was the right call, the Bearkats attempted a pass.  As if an apt metaphor for the Bearkats winless season, the pass is intercepted.  Yet, the Beavers, given the gift, cannot move the ball after romping up and down the field for the previous 58 minutes.  Ballgame.

Oregon State’s special teams must be the worst in the country.  Maybe ever!  This is the 2nd game that special teams directly contributed to a Beaver loss (their loss to Fresno State improbably provided even more special team breakdowns).

The Odyssey roots for Oregon State and is still mad that their Pac12 brethen abandoned the Beavers.  At some point down the road, we hope they wake up from their nightmare.

The transfer portal has created many curiosities.  The Jonathan Smith era at Michigan State has foundered in year 2 with a 0-6 Big 10 mark.  Part of the issue for the Spartans has been inconsistent QB play.  Last Saturday, in Minneapolis, Smith’s fellow refugee from Oregon State, Aidan Chiles was benched.  The result was that the Spartans played a bit better, losing an overtime heartbreaker.

The irony is that Michigan State has recruited the position well.  But numerous flourishing QBs did not stay in East Lansing.  Sam Leavitt has been a revelation at ASU the past two years.  Noah Kim has become the starter at Eastern Michigan.  Katin Houser has revved up the East Carolina offense.  In fact, expect the Pirates to get revenge against Charlotte today for last year’s 55-24 thrashing by the 49ers.  The Odyssey will not be surprised if Houser leads the Pirates to more points this weekend in any game against a hapless 49er defense.

Even the MSU QB transfers who were less successful after leaving Sparty have been noteworthy.  While Payton Thorne had a noteworthy 2021 season at MSU, his less-than-successful 2 years at Auburn were one of the many reasons Hugh Freeze got the boot on Sunday.

Gerrymandering in Texas and California have been hot political topics this year.  The Atlantic Coast Conference has managed to gerrymander its conference race.

Louisville beat Miami 2 Fridays ago in what may have been a contest between the ACC’s 2 best teams.  Yet, a skewed schedule may prevent either from being in the ACC championship game because….

Neither Georgia Tech or Virginia have lost a conference game this year (Virginia’s loss to NC State was deemed a non-conference game).  Both of their conference schedules are tissue soft compared to others.  Inequities are to be expected in a 8-game conference format where you only play half of the other members.  STILL, what happened to the schedules this year was shocking.  Georgia Tech has already surmounted the Clemson hurdle and a pesky test at Duke.  But, no Miami, Louisville or SMU on the Rambling Wreck’s schedule.

Similar to Georgia Tech, Virginia has already surmounted what was deemed to be its most formidable conference foe at Louisville.  The Cavaliers needed  2 non-offensive TD’s to overcome an off day from Chandler Morris and Company.  If nothing else, Virginia is clutch as they possess one of the more amazing stats:  3 overtime voctories.  Of course, they have to show the world they can actually beat their in-state nemesis.  While the Cavaliers also beat Florida State, notables not on their schedule include SMU, Miami, Pitt and Clemson.

Meanwhile, the conference must have been pissed that SMU went undefeated in ACC play last year.  The Mustangs may have the most challenging conference schedule.  Clemson, Miami and Louisville are on the schedule.  It was ironic that their first conference loss since 1922 was inflicted by “none of above.”   Last Saturday, the Mustangs succumbed to a Wake Forest squad that is worlds better than anybody thought.  Further irony:  How can a supposedly explosive SMU offense be the recipient of 5 Wake turnovers and score only 12 points.  A blocked extra point was the margin in the 13-12 upset at the hands of the Demon Deacons.

Louisville’s conference schedule is also worlds more difficult than that of Virginia or Georgia Tech.  The Cardinals slate includes Clemson, SMU, Miami and Pitt.

So, the ACC championship game may be entertaining but does not guarantee a “true” winner.  What is championship caliber is the commentary duo of Mike Richt and Dave Clawson on the ACC network.  The duo is a brilliant combnation of intellegent, self-deprecating and hilarious.  Who would ever think that Richt, afflicted by Parkinson’s, would talk about how his lack of smell prevents him from knowing how hadly he farted?

7 weeks ago, the Oklahoma Sooners were the toast of college football.  Gameday was in Norman.  The Sooners delivered with a decisive victory over Michigan due to a combination of a swarming defense and a swashbuckling QB, NIL import John Mateer.  Mateer was touted as a Heisman favorite.

Oklahoma’s good fortune continued.  Thanks in large part to an illegal TD, the Sooners outlasted Auburn.  HOWEVER…..Mateer broke his hand during the game.  Three weeks later, he was rushed into the Texas game and played poorly.

Still, with a 6-1 start, OK was still OK, as long as they could beat the Lane Kiffins in Norman on Saturday.  Despite rallying from a 12-point second half deficit, Oklahoma could not hold off a hot Ole Miss offense, succumbing 34-26.  The bloom has gone off Mateer.   The ABC commentators opined that Mateer took too many risks.

6-2 is still not bad but for a team that had playoff and national championship aspirations, the consequences of the Ole Miss loss can not be overstated.  Oklahoma’s final 4 games are against Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri and LSU.

OUCH!  Oklahoma is not OK.

One fine was more than welcome:  Texas A&M was fined for faking an injury.  Hallelujah!!

The second fine was puzzling.  Stanford was penalized $50,000 for fans on the field after its surprising upset over Florida State.  The Odyssey’s reaction:  Stanford has fans?

While not as head scratching as Delaware’s decision to go for 2 at the end of the first half last week, the Odyssey wonders if “the spread” had any influence on 2 decisions in the last 2 minutes of the Michigan State – Indiana game.

IU was on an extended drive late in the 4th quarter.  Leading 35-10 with 4th and 1, Indiana had an interesting decision.  The gambling spread was IU by 27.  The Hoosiers elect to attempt a 31-yard field goal attempt.  Good!  38-10, as the spread is now covered.

Until it wasn’t.  MSU drove down the field with its backup QB and had a 4th and 12 at the IU 16 with 33 seconds left.  They decide to kick a 34-yard field goal.  Good!  MSU covers.

The Odyssey wonders whether the spread entered into either of the late decisions.  In this era where big boosters tend to run the programs, it seems as if more coaches are cognizant of “the spread.”  Or is the Odyssey off base here?  Perhaps.

The Odyssey enjoys perusing betting sites which offer all types of odds.  Wednesday night, Delaware played at Jacksonville State in a pretty obscure game.  The first half total intrested us.  At one site, you can grab over 27.5 if you were willing to pay 20% juice.  At one other site, the total was 28.5.  These figures bracketed the key first half total of 28.

Jacksonville State races off to a 21-0 lead.  Delaware scored a TD with slightly under 2 minutes to go in the first half.

21-6.  Inexplicably, the Fightin’ Blue Hens go for 2!  A trick play seemingly works but the receiver in the end zone, all alone, drops the 2-point conversion pass.  Jacksonville State proceeds to drive down the field and narrowly misses a 47-yard field goal to end the first half.

The 21-6 halftime score was costly to those who had the over of 27.5 or 28.  If Delaware had just kicked the extra point, the gambling impact was significant.

Now, exactly why did Delaware go for 2??  We still have no idea.  But we wondered if some cynics about the impact of gambling came to a likely faulty conclusion:  That the Blue Hens went for two to try to beat the 28 and 28.5 totals out there.  That we would think such a thought is very likely a byproduct of an overactive imagination.  Then again, we remember Pete Rose betting on his own team.  The corrosive shadow of gambling strikes again!