Hallway between the War Room and the break room

“My New Year’s resolution is to enjoy success and work to improve failures instead of whining.”

I never asked anyone what their New Year’s goal was, assuming it would be something like get in shape, quit drinking or smoking, lose weight, or do something as obscure as what the Grand Geek had suggested to me in my tiny office during the last SEC football season. I had rarely seen him without a suit and tie, yet he was dressed simply.

After noticing the Nerds in their Hawaiian shirts, bags, and baggage stacked up in the hallway between the War Room and the break room, he had made his way down from the Almost Perfect Picks Department. Due to the fact that no Southeastern Conference team advanced to the College Football Playoff final, they were starting their seven-month vacation a bit early.

And by that, naturally, it means Alabama was eliminated.

“Overall, we had a great competitive season,” GG said. “We’ll head off for a little break with a grin on our faces and congrats to Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and LSU for winning their bowl games, Bama for winning their 30th championship, and Georgia and Alabama for winning their respective divisions to advance to the SEC Championship Game. Additionally, to LSU for producing Jayden Daniels, the Heisman Trophy winner. Missouri’s Eliah Drinkwitz, who won SEC Coach of the Year.

“Every player who took home individual awards. Nearby, we were most impressed by the development of Deontae Lawson at middle linebacker, Caleb Downs’ Freshman All-America status, and the play that will go down in history—”Gravedigger,” from Jalen Milroe to Isaiah Bond.

Although this strange conversation sounded a lot like a way to delay things, I did add, “Happy New Year to you and the boys.”

and waited after that.

“It is a well-known fact that bowl games are especially difficult to evaluate in the current game due to the Transfer Portal and players’ opt-out clause,” he said.

I held out.

With a sigh, he gave the results to her. He turned and headed back up the hall, half-smiling, saying, “I think we learned a lot and look forward to seeing you again next season.”

Against the spread and the over-unders (total points by both teams), the Nerds were 5-5 in the ten bowl games and 6-4 in the winners prediction.

The record for the year was 51-66 on the over-unders, 58-50 against the points spread, and 102-21 when picking winning teams.