Music City Bowl

Another game on while I was at work.  I get one more chance to root against the Irish.

I was really looking forward to this game.  The new realignment of bowl games and the playoff has truly improved the match-ups.  This game has been around a while and rarely has two high profile teams playing like they did today even if both teams had lousy seasons.

LSU vs. Notre Dame

Anyone who knows me realizes how much I can't stand Notre Dame and relished seeing their season fall apart this year.  Quarterback Everett Golson was a turnover machine which directly lead to their 7-5 record.  If not for a few plays, that record could have been 5-7 easily.  Turnovers are a killer.

In a game of explosive plays all over the field, one play swung this game.  LSU, at the end of the first, pulled the fake field goal and went for the TD.  Officials called the runner down despite the ball crossing the goal line. Since every single play is reviewed, this one was and the call held despite most of the video showing the LSU player scored.

While there's no real way to do it, I 'd like to see a somewhat more definite way of scoring a touchdown. It's not just plays where the nose of the ball crosses the goal line, but the more frequent ball crossing over the pylon.  Something where a player's body and the ball have to be in the end zone.  Whatever, it will never happen, people like TD's.

This was a game of explosive plays including a 100-yard kick off return and an 89-yard touchdown run by LSU's Leonard Fournette who will be a Heisman candidate next year.

In the end, LSU had the same faults on defense that doomed their season all year and they gave up a long, late drive and a last second Irish field goal.  Damn.

Notre Dame 31  LSU 28

Notes

-The bowl season has been really good except for a couple stinkers, like the night games last night.  This game drew a huge crowd.  They were rewarded with a really good game.

More than 60,000. That's solid business for the city of Nashville, especially considering the 17,000 that may have showed up for their NFL team's finale.

-Good grief, did they win the national championship?

 I guess they have to make themselves feel good about something.

Bowl swag:  This game should follow the Pinstripe Bowl and not announce its gifts to the players.  The only gift listed is a Fossil watch. 

My pick - I missed big time on this one.  I called for an LSU blow out of Notre Dame.

I expected the Irish to come limping in when obviously it meant something to them.  While I appreciate a coach realizing these games essentially mean nothing, Les Miles was stupid to not kick the field goal at the end of the half knowing they had the ball to start the third.

Two more games tonight.