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The Bottom Ten/NCAA Week 8
By Gaylon Kent
The Writer's Shack
Never have Bottom Ten pollsters been faced with this much lousiness! Things are so bad that, thanks to our penchant for legacy teams, there's no room for really lousy teams like Idaho, Utah State or Kent State. Even Army was discharged after their second win of the season!
Rest assured, though, there is still enough detritus competing for the Wal-Mart Trophy Presented by Motel 6 to ensure the septic tank is overflowing.
In losing streak news, the nation's longest losing streak (NLLS) wasn't broken for the first time this year, mainly because Washington didn't play, and defending champion North Texas took advantage, losing their seventh straight to capture a share of the NLLS. And St. Anselm turned in the Continental Cup, breaking their North American-best 31-game skid.
This week's mess:
1. North Texas (0-6; lost to UL-Lafayette 59-30)
Mitigating Factors: Defending B-10 champs charge out to first lead of the year, 3-0, before turning it over to defense, who allows season-high's in Total Yards (590) Rushing Yards (338) and First Downs (27)…Team so bad Student Union only allowing team to play two more home games this season.
Yeah, We Bad: North Texas has not beaten anyone other than Compass Point schools, Hyphenated Schools or Florida International since 2004.
Next Loss: at UL-Monroe
2. Michigan (2-4; lost to Toledo 13-10)
Mitigating Factors: Total team effort for Wolverines, as offense throws in three (3) interceptions, including one returned for touchdown, defense gives up eight third down conversions and special teams misses game-tying field goal with four seconds left…Wolverines rank 109th in Total Offense (291.5 ypg), 102nd in Passing Offense (160.83 ypg) and 100th in Scoring Offense (18.03 ppg)
Bonus Points: Michigan surges to runner-up spot thanks to strength of schedule points, as Toledo lost to pre-season #1 Florida International earlier this year.
Next Loss: at Penn State
3. Apple Cup (Washington, Washington State, 1-11; UW: DNP; WSU: lost at Oregon St. 66-13)
Mitigating Factors: Strategic, refreshing bye week keeps Huskies from extending NLLS, but Cougars do their part by giving up 66 points for second time this season…With 170 penalty yards and 132 total yards, Cougars take Week 8 title with 1.29-to-1 Penalty Yards-To-Total Yards ratio.
That's Incredible! Incredibly, Cougars do not rank Dead Last in any category, though they do rank 114th or worse in Total Offense, Scoring Offense, Rushing Offense and Scoring Defense.
Next Losses: UW: Oregon State; WSU: USC
4. AP #1 Team (Oklahoma lost to Texas 45-35)
Mitigating Factors: #1 loses for third time in 2008, making BCS fans salivate at prospect of same mess we had last year.
FunFact: With so many good teams, thank God the BCS is here to sort matters out for us and take the controversy out of selecting teams for the national title game…Thanks BCS!
Next Loss: Too late, the fun was taken out college football years ago.
5. SMU (1-6; lost to Tulsa 37-31)
Mitigating Factors: Mustangs primed for B-10 medal stand run, giving up 600 yards for second time this season, including season-high 346 on ground…Mustangs rank Dead Last in NCAA in Total Defense (496.86 ypg) and Next To Dead Last in Rushing Offense (50.86 ypg)
Clutch Factor: SMU impressing B-10 pollsters by leading 14-3, 17-10 and 31-24, the third time this season they've managed to pull defeat from the jaws of victory.
Next Loss: Houston
6. Indiana State (0-6; lost at Southern Illinois 60-7)
Mitigating Factors: Sycamores, who nobody's heard of since Larry Bird left, back in it as new holders of Continental Cup, given to team with longest losing streak in North America…Indiana State has lost 20 straight and 44 of last 45…Last win was 10/21/06 vs. Missouri State….Last win before that was in 2004.
Consistency Counts: Sycamores holders of FCS Triple Crown, leading former I-AA division with longest home (9), road (25) and conference (11) losing streaks.
Next Loss: at Western Illinois
7. Rice (3-3; lost to Tulsa 63-28)
Mitigating Factors: Record not that impressive, but Owls get strength of schedule boost as three teams they have beaten have combined 4-16 record and two (North Texas, SMU) are ranked in current B-10…Defense showing way for Rice, ranking 114th in Scoring Defense (39.17 ppg) and 113th in Total Defense (465.5 ypg).
Strong Finishing Kick: Owls rebounding nicely from 2-0 start, having lost three out of four.
Next Loss: at East Carolina
8. Temple (2-5; lost to Central Michigan 24-14)
Mitigating Factors: Former B-10 staple rebounding from fluke four-win 2007 with standard B-10 run, having lost four out of five…While defense is usually key to making B-10 medal stand, Owls flying high with offense that ranks 115th Total Offense (266.5 ypg), 110th in Scoring Offense (17.14 ppg), 108th in Rushing Offense (103.14 ppg) and 100th in Passing Offense (163.43 ypg)
Putting The Special In Special Teams: All three Central Michigan touchdown drives start well in Temple territory, with the worst start being the Owl 37.
Next Loss: Ohio
9. McGill (0-6; lost to St. Francis Xavier 40-7)
Mitigating Factors: B-10 pollsters, flustered after Toronto broke their mammoth 49-game losing streak earlier this season, finally find new Canadian team to pick on as Redmen have lost 16 straight, second best on continent…With 70 penalty yards and 16 rushing yards vs. StFX, Redmen lead hemisphere with 4.375-to-1 penalty yards-to-rushing yards ratio.
A Shutout Would Be Nice: McGill has scored seven (7) points in each of its last three games.
Next Loss: Montreal (Homecoming!)
10. Buffalo (2-4; lost to Western Michigan 34-28)
Mitigating Factors: Former B-10 stalwarts throw hat back in B-10 ring, having lost three straight since starting season 2-1…Latest disaster the type of OT loss that wins B-10 titles as Bulls let WMU score game-tying touchdown with five seconds left in game, then open OT by throwing interception, then wrapping up matters by allowing game-winning touchdown.
Historical Context: Since triumphantly resuming major college football in 1999, Buffalo is 19-90, including one winless season, three one-win seasons and losing streaks of ten, 14 and 18 games.
Next Loss: Army
This Week's Clash of the Titans: Army at Buffalo
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