| | Home
The Bottom Ten/NCAA Week 4
By Gaylon Kent
The Writer's Shack
Never have B-10 pollsters seen this much havoc early in the season! First Minnesota has the nation's longest losing streak (NLLS) snapped, then Idaho and SMU have their NLLS's snapped and now Kent State shows they aren't up to the pressure as they won this past weekend, breaking their nine-game skid.
Also, the token, just-for-laughs Sun Belt Conference entry was kicked out by rather serious Pac-10, who went 3-7 this past weekend, including UCLA's 59-0 thriller at BYU, the worst Mormon slaughter since 1857's Mountain's Meadow Massacre.
The race for the Wal-Mart Trophy Presented by Motel 6 has never been this wide open, with virtually team in this week's survey having a legitimate claim for the top spot, and that doesn't even include last week's #1 Florida International, not ranked this week because they didn't play!
This week's carnage:
1. Pac-10 Conference (3-7)
Mitigating Factors: Conference of champions sees Washington schools, Stanford and UCLA blown out, the Arizona schools losing to dreaded Mountain West juggernauts UNLV and New Mexico and ranked Cal losing at Maryland…Only Oregon schools, USC save face with victories as USC polishes off application for Mountain West membership.
Uh-Oh: The last time UCLA lost this bad a Depression started a month and a day later. In related news, the official Writer's Shack bank failed last week. Draw your own conclusions.
FunFact: While Pac-10 teams have just two games scheduled against FCS teams in 2008, the SEC has already played six FCS teams, the Big Ten and Big 12 eight and the ACC 11.
2. Michigan (1-2; lost to Notre Dame 35-17)
Mitigating Factors: Wolverines make catching the ball look like Special Olympics event as offense amasses 388 yards, six turnovers in losing to 2007 B-10 darling who barely beat San Diego State, who lost to Cal Poly…Wolverines are 1-2 in consecutive seasons for first time since 1963 (1-3-1) and 1962 (1-5)…Michigan ranks 101st in Total Offense (290.67 ypg) and 107th in Punt Returns (2.67 ypr).
Haven't We Used This Line Before? Six turnovers to Notre Dame qualify as religious contribution, exempting UM from annual NCAA-mandated charitable donations.
Next Loss: Wisconsin
3. Defense Department (Army, Navy, 1-4; Army: DNP; Navy: lost to Duke 41-31))
Mitigating Factors: Navy gets emergency, wartime commission back into bellwether B-10 entry…Middies priming for B-10 medal stand challenge, rebounding from touchdowns on first two possessions to blow leads of 14-10 and 24-17 in loss to Blue Devil team that had lost 43 of their last 48.
FunFact: Coast Guard Academy (0-1) considered for entry, but last time Coast Guard was ranked pollsters got nasty email from starting quarterback.
Next Losses: Army: Akron; Navy: Rutgers
4. Alabama-Birmingham (0-3; lost at Tennessee 35-3)
Mitigating Factors: Blazers now holders of NLLS, with nine straight losses and have also lost an impressive 19 of last 21…UAB offense not too bad, but defense blazing trail to B-10 glory ranking dead last in NCAA in Total Defense (567.67 ypg) and 116th in Passing Defense (333.67 ypg).
Tradition Of Excellence: Since beginning D-I football in 1996, UAB has had three (3) winning seasons.
Next Loss: Alabama St.
5. Holy Trinity (Notre Dame, SMU, Wisconsin Lutheran, 3-4; Notre Dame: beat Michigan 35-17; SMU: lost to Texas Tech 43-7; Wisconsin Lutheran: lost to Mayville St 9-7)
Mitigating Factors: Irish close to being excommunicated from entry, but pollsters take heart as wins have come against Little Sisters of the Poor San Diego State and Michigan…Irish accepting six Michigan turnovers constitutes charity win as Irish are outgained by 120 yards…Wisconsin Lutheran fumbles three times, with last one leading to fourth-quarter, game winning touchdown.
Oh, Jesus H: SMU credited with moral victory for outscoring Red Raiders 7-0 over last 3:31 of game.
Next Losses: Notre Dame: at Michigan State; SMU: TCU; Wisconsin Lutheran: St. Scholastica
6. Washington State (0-3; lost to Baylor 45-17)
Mitigating Factors: Cougars primed for great B-10 run having already suffered worse loss in school history against Cal, then getting blown out by Baylor team averaging 3.7 wins a season this century and who had lost nine straight against FBS teams…Cougars rank 100th or worse in an impressive 12 official NCAA stat categories, including Dead Last in Rushing Defense (330.33 ypg) and Next To Dead Last in Scoring Defense (50.0 ppg).
Stat Watch: Cougars give up 174 yards rushing in week one, 426 vs. Baylor. Plot that on a graph and Cougars primed to be giving up over 1,600 rushing yards a game by the end of the season.
Next Loss: Portland State
7. Syracuse (0-3; lost to Penn St. 55-15)
Mitigating Factors: Orange insure they are never in this with total team effort early, trailing 28-0 before getting a first down…With the NLLS falling pretty much every week, Syracuse steadily moving up charts and current seven game skid is good for third-worse in country (TWIC)...Orange have lost 19 of 22 overall.
Consistency Counts: Orange rank 100th or worse in Total Offense, Passing Offense and Scoring Offense, and 100th or worse in Total Defense, Passing Defense and Scoring Defense.
Next Loss: Northeastern
8. North Texas (0-3; lost to LSU 41-3)
Mitigating Factors: Defending B-10 champions showing the big-play capability that wins B-10 titles as Mean Green gives up touchdowns on 41 and 39-yard runs, 92-yard punt return…Defense finally coming into its own, giving up balanced 216 yards rushing, 209 yards passing.
Texas Football Massacre: North Texas ranks 100th or worse in no less than eleven (11) NCAA stat categories…Highest ranking for offense is 91 (Rushing Offense, Passing Offense) and 92 for defense (Rushing Defense)
Next Loss: at Rice (9/27)
9. Rutgers (0-2; lost to North Carolina 44-12)
Mitigating Factors: After three straight winning seasons, Scarlet Knights looking to regain form that produced eleven wins from 2000-03…Four interceptions lead to ten UNC points, leading to QB Mike Teel to point out that even had he not thrown any interceptions they still would have lost by three touchdowns.
Weekend Warriors: After playing first two games on Monday and Thursday, Rutgers finally plays first Saturday game on 9/20.
Next Loss: at Navy
10. Utah State (0-3; lost to Utah 58-10)
Mitigating Factors: Aggies move on to B-10 regionals after claiming Mormon B-10 prize with blowout loss to in-state rival…Utah State currently ranks Dead Last in Scoring Defense (50.33 ppg) and the highest they rank in any major offensive or defensive category is 90th in Passing Offense (170 ypg).
Oh, What Might Have Been: Aggies two game winning streak at the end of 2007 not only cost them the B-10 title, but also prevented a 20-game losing streak.
Next Loss: Idaho
This Week's Clash of the Titans: Rutgers at Navy
This Week's Clash of the Titans, Special Louis L'Amour Out West Edition: Idaho at Utah State
Previous Week's #1 Not Ranked Due To Bye Week: Florida International
Threats? Recipes? Trivia question answers? Email The Writer's Shack Here!
Home |
|