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The Bottom Ten/NCAA Week 9
By Gaylon Kent
The Writer's Shack
Controversy rages in the Bottom Ten this week as last week's #1, North Texas, drops to #2 despite losing! We go through this from time to time, whenever pollsters feel that merely losing isn't enough, that you must not only lose big, but lose big every week! Which explains why Washington State is this week's new #1, upending North Texas, who had the nerve to only lose by twelve!
The Cougars are so bad, pollsters broke up the esteemed Apple Cup entry, in order to give both Washington State and Washington, co-holders of the nation's longest losing streak (NLLS) their undivided attention.
And B-10 fans are rejoicing at some consistency finally appearing, as both Washington and North Texas extended the nation's longest losing streak (NLLS) and Indiana St. still holds the Continental Cup, the first time all season one of the B-10's bellwether losing streaks have not been snapped.
This week's mess:
1. Washington State (1-7; lost to USC 69-0)
Mitigating Factors: Cougars don't even bother showing cursory, early interest, trailing 21-0 after first quarter and 41-0 after a half, and have given up 60 or more points four times in 2008…Despite this, WSU ranks only third in Kickoff Returns (49), trailing both SMU and Idaho…Cougars lead Week 9 with 1.61-to-1 Penalty Yards to Passing Yards ratio.
Consistency Counts: Cougars rank Next To Dead Last in Scoring Offense (13.88 ppg), Scoring Defense (48.13 ppg) and Rushing Defense (266.25 ypg).
Next Loss: at Stanford
2. North Texas (0-7; lost to UL-Monroe 35-23)
Mitigating Factors: Defending B-10 champs lose grip on top spot with inconsistent, sloppy loss…Defense key, giving up touchdowns on four straight first half possessions, overcoming offense that refuses to turn the ball over and musters 31 first downs and 463 total yards…NT ranks 100th or worse in eleven stat categories and 115th or worse in five.
How Is This Possible? Despite having given more than 60 points in a game only once - three times less than Washington State - Mean Green still manage to rank Dead Last in Scoring Defense (50.71 ppg)
Next Loss: Troy
3. Washington (0-6; lost to Oregon State 34-13)
Mitigating Factors: Sure, Huskies losing games by an average of 40.67 to 17.67, but little things making difference with Huskies who rank 115th in Kickoff Returns, 114th in Turnover Margin and 106th in Punt Returns…
What The Hell's Going On Here? With not ranking in Top 2 despite sharing NLLS, Huskies hoping for breakout loss in annual debacle vs. Washington State in hopes for B-10 glory.
Next Loss: Notre Dame
4. SMU (1-7; lost to Houston 44-38)
Mitigating Factors: Mustangs impressing B-10 pollsters by blowing lead for the fourth time this season…SMU showing type of resiliency that wins B-10 titles by leading 14-0, 21-7, 28-17 and 35-23 before getting outscored 21-3 in fourth quarter…Defense has allowed 209 first downs, most in the country.
Consolation Prize: With six straight losses, Mustangs in prime position for both B-10 medal stand and Tostitos Plaque, given to team with longest losing streak in a season that actually includes a win.
Next Loss: at Navy
5. Idaho (1-7; lost at Louisiana Tech 46-14)
Mitigating Factors: Vandals doing it with defense, having given up at least 42 points in all seven losses…Idaho ranks Dead Last in Total Defense (502.88 ppg) and 117th in Scoring Defense (46.88 ppg) and Rushing Defense (248.63 ypg)…Vandals issued Avis Runner-up Cup with nation's best 17-game conference losing streak.
Down To The Wire: Vandals in dogfight with SMU for Tostitos Plaque…Both are 1-7 with six games losing streaks, so both will need help to win treasured, meaningless Plaque outright.
Next Loss: New Mexico State
6. Pac-10/Big Ten
Mitigating Factors: Of the 13 FBS teams who have lost at least four straight games, no less than six (6) are from Rose Bowl tributary conferences…Pac-10 particularly offensive this year, sporting an 11-15 non-conference mark…Conference teams, conferences make up half of this week's poll.
You've Got To Be Kidding Me: By contrast, the Sun Belt Conference has only one team, North Texas, who has lost at least four games.
7. Indiana State (0-7; lost to Western Illinois 56-0)
Mitigating Factors: FCS Sycamores, losers of 21 straight and ineligible for B-10 title, medal stand, are current holders of Continental Cup, issued to North American college team with longest losing streak… Out of 11 possessions vs. Western Illinois, nine result in punts, 1 in an interception and another ended on downs.
Consistency Counts: Sycamore have scored four touchdowns and four field goals this year.
Next Loss: South Dakota State
8. Vanderbilt (5-2; lost at Georgia 24-14)
Mitigating Factors: Old B-10 faves not really entitled to being ranked but with pollsters penchant for legacy picks, spot being saved for late season run…With a little bit of luck and a late season losing streak, Commodores could still qualify for Tostitos Plaque consideration.
Sinking Like A Stone: Commodores offense has bolted from middle of the pack in Total Offense to Next To Dead Last (249.3 ypg), ranking behind even Washington State, which NCAA statisticians previously thought impossible.
Next Loss: Duke
9. Michigan (2-5; lost at Penn St. 46-17)
Mitigating Factors: Wolverines overcome 17-14 halftime lead with heroic second half blowout, getting outscored 32-0…This is the first time Wolverines have lost three straight games in one regular season since 1967 team lost five straight.
Get Out Your History Books: This is also the quickest Michigan has gotten to five losses, eclipsing even vaunted 1967 squad, who lost game #5 on Oct. 28
Next Loss: Michigan State
10. Indiana (2-5; lost to Illinois 55-13)
Mitigating Factors: Hoosiers following up first winning season since 1993 with usual fiasco, having lost five straight…Hoosiers returning to historical form, with sixth five-game, in-season losing streak this century, and eighth since 1995.
Blazing Their Own Trail: Hoosiers defying B-10 tradition, with worse national ranking only a #100 in Scoring Defense (30.86 ppg).
Next Loss: Northwestern
This Week's Clash of the Titans: SMU at Navy
This One Ain't Gonna Be Any Better: Washington State at Stanford
Big Ten Borefest of the Week: Northwestern at Indiana
Lousy Inter-University Game of the Week: University at California at Los Angeles at University of California at Berkley.
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