Help with my play last night!

[Quartersack]

Hey everyone, been reading the forum for years. You guys and gals have a great site going and I'm glad I finally joined "officially" My reason for signing up/posting is because of a play I made last night in a tournament. Let me begin by saying that this was a small tournament ($70 buy-in/55 people) There wasnt much money to be won but I try to play every tournament, rather its $10 or $10,000 the same. I have been playing poker, cash and tournaments, for years. I am by no means a beginner. I have had my moments where I have lost thousands during a session but never have I had 1 hand that is bothering me so much. Im not sure why it is but it is! I will lay it out and you tell me your opinion.

We are playing the above mentioned tournament and we are at the final table. 7 players left and I am 1 of 3 big stacks. Blinds are 800/1600 with a 300 ante. Under the gun raises to 5500 (he is the big stack) at the time and based on chips, 5500 is a rather large raise. Action is on me. I am next to act, I look down and see QQ. I have about 14,000 in chips. I think it over for several minutes and this what I come up with. The guy raising that large under the gun has a big hand. I put him on a big ace or AA/KK I know that if I come over the top for 8500 more he is going to call. So with me putting him on a big Ace, I just smooth call. My logic here is this, we see the flop and if an Ace hits the board im done. Ive put him on a big ace, I know if I go all in he will call. If I just smooth call and an Ace hits the board im out and dont go broke. Flop come rag,rag,ACE!

Im thinking to myself that Ive made a pretty good move by just smooth calling. Action is on him and he bets 3000. Now im even more confused! A 3000 bet into a 15,000+ pot. I think it over, the whole time Ive put him on an Ace and here is his 3000 bet begging to get called. So I, once again, call hoping to hit a set on the turn or see his action after the turn. No way I can fold to a 3000 bet in that size pot. The turn is a 10. Action is on him and he bets me all-in. It doesnt take me long to fold, in the process I flip my cards and have a few choice words for the Ace that hit the board. As he is raking the pot he flips over JJ. Arrrgghhhh!!!

Now I'm beating myself up over not going all in pre-flop. For some reason its just killing me! I was left with a few thousand and got put out about 10 hands later. Talking with the dealer after I was out, he thought I was an idiot and didnt see my logic in just calling pre-flop. Looking back on it I go all-in. I was just one of 3 big stacks and wanted to get some smaller stacks out before I risked my stack. Also, Im not the type of player that likes to race off my chips, especially at the final table. With me putting him on a big ace, I have enough chips to withstand losing the 5500 call. Does anyone see my logic or did I just make a terrible play? I also can not figure out what he put me on to be betting like he did.

Sorry for such a long first post. I will look forward to everyones comments

Thanks!